Biography
Saba Farhoudnia (b. 1987, Tehran, Iran)
Saba Farhoudnia was born in Tehran, Iran in 1987, in the midst of war. She currently lives and works in New York. Saba’s paintings are monumental in scale and explore the challenges facing the human condition. Saba merges the art of drawing, painting, language, and verse, through brushstrokes, geometric forms, calligraphy, and gestural marks to evoke drama, pain, humor, and beauty. The forms are intended to plumb the depths of the grotesque and elevate the humor in beauty. Her work explores humanity poised on a precipice: facing an insecure present and an uncertain future.
Saba Farhoudnia honed her skills by earning B.F.A. and M.A. from the University of Science and Culture in Tehran, Iran. Saba also received a second M.F.A. from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. She is an alumna of the Artist In the Marketplace fellowship program at the Bronx Museum of the Arts (New York, 2020), an awardee of the Queens Arts Fund Grant (New York, 2022) and an Artist in Residence at the Fashion Institute Technology of Art (New York, 2023). Saba’s work has been seen worldwide, including Bronx Museum (New York, 2024), Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (New York, 2022), Dominico-American Cultural Institute (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2015), Reza Abbasi Museum (Tehran, Iran, 2002). Her work can also be found in such periodicals as Studio International, Art Spiel, Thalia Magazine, Studio Visit Magazine, and Words Without Borders among others.
EDUCATION
2019 M.F.A. Maryland Institute College of Art, Painting, Baltimore
2012 M.A. University of Science and Culture, Art Research, Tehran, Iran
2010 B.F.A University of Science and Culture, Painting, Tehran, Iran
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
Saba Fardoudnia: Falling Petals, Standing Roses, Fou Gallery, New York, March 9–May 2024. (Digital Catalogue)
2022
Saba Farhoudnia: Reflection, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL), New York, December 2–23, 2022.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Bronx Calling: The Sixth AIM Biennial: Part I, Bronx Museum, New York, January 26–March 31, 2024.
2023
Take a Break, Fou Gallery New York, December 9, 2023–February 24, 2024. (Digital Catalogue)
Personal Mythologies, Elza Kayal Gallery, New York, November 30, 2023–January 20, 2024.
Migration and Identity, Hewitt Gallery of Art in Marymount Manhattan College, New York, April 3–May 2, 2023.
2022
Abstract Expression 2022 (Online Juried Exhibition), Red Bluff Gallery, Red Bluff, 2022.
The Sky is Higher Here, Transmitter Gallery, New York, February 19–March 27, 2022.
2021
National Juried Exhibition, First Street Gallery, New York, June 24–July 17, 2021.
If You Can Make It, Somad Gallery, New York, September 30–October 2, 2021.
2019
Collective Punishment, Musa Collective Gallery, Boston, September 7–28, 2019.
2018
Open Studio, JVS Project Space, New York, 2018.
LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting Fall Show, Fox 3 Gallery, Baltimore, 2018.
Expression, Cardinal Space Gallery, Baltimore, 2018
2017
Open Studio, JVS Project Space Gallery, New York, 2017.
2015
Diversos, Dominico-American Cultural Institute, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2015.
Libres, Cultural Center Mella, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2015.
2014
6x6 Ceramic Tile, JVS Project Space Gallery, New York, 2014.
2012
Artistic Dialogues Spring, Middle East Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2012.
2010
International Art Expo, Faam Gallery, Beijing, China, 2010.
2008
Group Painting Exhibition (Fall), Bahzad Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2008.
2002
Designed Group Exhibition (Summer), Reza Abbasi Museum, Tehran, Iran, 2002.