Elham Shafaei (b. 1983) is an Iranian artist and curator currently based in the United Arab Emirates. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Painting from the School of Arts at the University of Science and Culture in Tehran, as well as an M.A. and Ph.D. in Fine Arts from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Elham’s work and research focus on experimental processes, exploring diverse mediums such as painting, papermaking, photography, installation, textile art, sound, and video art to express her concepts. Her artistic practice often delves into human existential conditions, including themes of loneliness, emptiness, and freedom. Additionally, she explores the connections between these themes and ideas of home, memory, displacement, and diaspora.
In addition to her artistic practice, Elham is the Co-Founder and Co-Editor of ContemporaryIdentities, an international online art magazine. She is also a curator and art mentor at Nexus Artspace.
Mixed media on primed & un-primed canvas - 2018-19
Photography and Bread-Installation - 2022
Mixed media on canvas, Soft sculpture - 2019-20
Stitch on Un-Primed Canvas - 2023
Highlights
Award
2020 Received Art Jameel’s Research and Practice Programme – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2014 2nd Place Winner (Painting) – ASEAN and National Thai Artists’ Art Creation Journey, “Artist Heritage of Southern Thailand”, University of Taksin, Songkla, Thailand
2016 Selected as International Alumni for the “Success Story Book” – USM, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
Solo Exhibitions
‘No Introduction’ – KoArt Gallery, Catania, Italy
‘Open Books’ – Pennant Place Outdoor Gallery, Gainesville, Florida, USA
2019 ‘We Are Lost’ – Saye Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2016 ‘Museum dan Galeri Tuanku Fauziah’ – Penang, Malaysia
2016 ‘Galeri Seni Mutiara’ – Penang, Malaysia
2015 ‘Run Amok Gallery’ – Penang, Malaysia
2012 ‘Handmade-Art Paper Exhibition’ – Adiwarna Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
2007 ‘Parvin Gallery’ – Rasht, Iran
Group Exhibitions
2024 Group Exhibition – H.A.T Projects, 379 Gallerie, Nancy, France
2024 Group Exhibition – KoArt Gallery, Catania, Italy
2024 Group Exhibition, Curated by Christiana Bonin – XVA Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2024 Group Art Exhibition, They Are Watching, Curated by Elham Shafaei – Gallery 25, ECU Galleries, Perth, WA, Australia
2024 Duet Exhibition, Threads of Existence with Sara Al Haddad – Aisha Al Abbar Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2023 Group Art Exhibition, Collaborative Exhibition with Richard Bernstein Foundation – HVAR, Croatia, August
2023 Group Art Exhibition, Made in Tashkeel – Tashkeel Al Serkal Avenue, Dubai, UAE
2023 Online Art Exhibition, The Philosophy of Friendship, Curated by ContemporaryIdentities Online Art Magazine – i.e. Art Projects Online Art Foundation and KoArt Gallery
2023 Group Art Exhibition, An Inch Thick, Curated by Morrow Collective – The Upside Space, Metaverse
2022 Group Art Exhibition, Off NFT NYC, Curated by Choen Lee – Metaverse
2022 International Biennial of Miniature ART (BIAMT), I Save the World Today – West University of Timisoara, Romania
2022 Group Art Exhibition, Sistema Naturæ #2 – Catania, Italy
2022 Group Art Exhibition, Sistema Naturæ #1 – Catania, Italy
2022 Group Art Exhibition, Philosophy of Food – Tashkeel Studio, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE
2022 Group Art Exhibition, Sensoria, School of the Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia Fine Arts Department Exhibition – Museum dan Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Penang, Malaysia
2021 Group Art Exhibition, Works from the Studio, Anniversary Exhibition of the CI Team – Virtual Exhibition at ContemporaryIdentities Online Art Gallery
2020-21 Group Art Exhibition, Covid Conversations – Tashkeel Studio, Tashkeel Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE
2020 2nd Puppet Group Exhibition (Online) – Honaragah Online Gallery, Iran
2020 Online Group Art Exhibition – Gallery Lane Cove, NSW, Australia
2020 Group Art Exhibition, Plastic, 40th SIKKA Art Fair, Represented by Tashkeel Studio – Tashkeel Al Fahidi, Dubai, UAE
2019 Group Art Exhibition, Made in Tashkeel – Tashkeel Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE
2019 Group Painting Exhibition, Self-Sufficient – 7Samar Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2019 Sikka 39th Art Fair, House of Failure, Represented by Tashkeel – Tashkeel House No. 10, Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Dubai, UAE
2019 Group Art Exhibition, January Blues, High Hopes on the Low Slopes of the New Year – The Old Church, Stock Newington, London, UK
2018 International Nature Image Festival (FIIN), Nature and Science Drawing Exhibition – Theater of Vila Real, Portugal
2018 Cow Illustration Biennale – Dnipro City Central Library, Dnipro, Ukraine
2018 Group Art Exhibition, Satu: Creative Collective Art Foundation – May Bank Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017 Group Art Exhibition, Department of Culture and Heritage – Menarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2017 Sharjah Vantage Point. 5 – Sharjah Art Foundation, Sharjah, UAE
2017 Exhibition of the Year for Iran Painters Association Members – Pardis Mellat, Tehran, Iran
2016 3rd Research Expo, Members of Association of Iranian Artist Under 40 – Khane Honarmandan Iran (Iranian Artist House), Tehran, Iran
2016 Group Drawing Exhibition, School of Art and Design, University of Dhaka – Bangladesh
2016 Group Art Exhibition, Hin Bus Depot Art Centre – Penang, Malaysia
2016 Group Art Exhibition, Art Colony Cered – Hungary
2016 Duet Exhibition with Farhad Farkhian – Tuanku Fauziah Museum & Gallery, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia
2015 International Arts Exhibition 2015 to Glorify the 5th Cycle Birthday Anniversary of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhhorn – PSU Art Gallery (Arts and Cultural Center), Songkla, Thailand
2014 International Print Ex-Change – Shang Kun Luo Qi Museum of International Modern Art, Hangzhou, China
2010 Group Exhibition of Painters Association – Khane Honarmandan Iran (Iranian Artist’s House), Tehran, Iran
2008 Group Exhibition of Painters Association – Niyavaran Culture House, Tehran, Iran
2007 2nd Exhibition of National Painting Institutes – Niyavaran Culture House, Tehran, Iran
2005 4th Islamic World Painting Exhibition – Academy of Art (Saba), Tehran, Iran
Residencies
2023 International Contemporary Art Colony Cered, Virtual Artist Residency – Hungary
2020 International Contemporary Art Colony Cered, Virtual Artist Residency – Hungary
2019 Aria Residency – Tehran, Iran
2018 The Pickers’ Hut @ Glaziers Bay – Tasmania, Australia
2016 International Contemporary Art Colony Cered – Hungary