Tala Madani

Tala Madani, an Iranian contemporary artist, was born in 1959 in Tehran. She initially studied political science at the University of Oregon in the United States, but her growing interest in visual arts led her to change her academic path, and she ultimately earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the same university. Madani later continued her studies at Yale University, where she received her Master of Fine Arts degree. After completing her education, she participated in the residency program at the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam and subsequently held her first solo exhibition titled Dust and Mirrors at Lombard-Freid Projects. Tala Madani has taken part in numerous residencies and biennials, most notably the Tirana Biennale, the Liverpool Biennial, and the Marrakesh Biennale. She has also participated in major international art fairs such as Frieze London, Art Basel Switzerland, and Art Basel Hong Kong. Among her distinctions is the James Dick Award from the Smithsonian Institution. Her works have been sold at renowned auction houses including Sotheby’s, Christie’s, Bonhams, and Phillips. Madani’s work addresses social and political issues, presented through a language that is often humorous, dark, and at times satirical. The majority of her works are figurative, with a particular focus on children and middle-aged figures. In a series titled Shit Mom, she depicts infants who are often separated from their mothers, placed in polluted and unsettling environments, rendered through semi-abstract forms and a restrained color palette. These figures, situated in unfamiliar and sometimes disturbing spaces, reflect the breakdown of human relationships. In addition to painting, Madani also works in the medium of animation. One of her solo projects, titled Online Film Screening: Animations by Tala Madani, was presented at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, an experience that further solidified her position within the international contemporary art scene.