November 18–April 9
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (Iranian, 1922–2019), Decagon (First Family Series), 2010, mirror and plaster on acrylic and wood. Photo courtesy of the estate of the artist and Haines Gallery.
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922–2019) was one of Iran’s most celebrated and revered visual artists, known internationally for her geometric mirror sculptures that combined the mathematical order and beauty of ancient Persian architectural motifs with the forms and patterns of hard-edged, postwar abstraction. The High Museum of Art will present the first posthumous exhibition of her work in an American museum with Monir Farmanfarmaian: A Mirror Garden. The exhibition’s title is borrowed from Farmanfarmaian’s 2007 memoir, coauthored by Zara Houshmand, which evokes the visual splendor of the artist’s mirror-mosaic sculptures composed of fragments of mirror and colorful painted glass in resplendent patterns. Painstakingly crafted objects on view will demonstrate the artist’s conceptual and technical virtuosity and her use of repetition and pattern.
RELATED PROGRAMS
MEMBER PREVIEW: MONIR FARMANFARMAIAN: A MIRROR GARDEN
Thursday, November 17, 12 noon–5 p.m.
Members see it first and free! Discover this new exhibition before it opens to the public. Space is limited, and preregistration is required. Visit high.org/farmanfarmaian-preview to register today.
INQUIRING MINDS: MONIR FARMANFARMAIAN: A MIRROR GARDEN
Tuesday, January 10, 1–2:30 p.m.
Members: $14, Not-Yet-Members: $18
Discuss key artworks, movements, and themes on view in the High’s upcoming exhibitions. These conversations are participatory in nature; they are not lectures. Come as you are, and share your observations, thoughts, and questions. For more information, please email lifelonglearning@high.org or call 404-733-5034.
PATRON+ MONIR FARMANFARMAIAN TOUR
Saturday, February 11, 11 a.m.
At the Patron level and above, members receive exclusive invitations to docent-led tours of special exhibitions. Tours are offered monthly, and space is limited. Register today at high.org/member-exclusives.
HOMESCHOOL DAY: MONIR FARMANFARMAIAN
Friday, February 10, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Visit high.org/event/homeschool-days-monir-farmanfarmaian for details. Free for members.
AUTHOR TALK: ZARA HOUSHMAND
Thursday, February 23, 7 p.m., Hill Auditorium
Zara Houshmand is the coauthor of A Mirror Garden, the 2007 memoir of artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian. The exhibition Monir Farmanfarmaian: A Mirror Garden borrows its title from the book and is the first posthumous exhibition at an American museum of Farmanfarmaian’s work.
“When Monir first asked me to tell her story,” said Houshmand, “I was inspired that this brilliant artist and adventurous, keen-eyed, free spirit could smash the Western stereotypes of Middle Eastern women. I longed to tap into my own memories of Iran, where I had traveled in Monir’s footsteps, and to open doors to the stunning beauty and warmth of a culture that has been demonized.”
A Mirror Garden is available for purchase in the Museum Shop. Visit high.org for tickets. Free for members.
LIFELONG LEARNING COURSE: MONIR IN THE MIRROR OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Thursdays, February 23–March 16, 1–2:30 p.m.
Members: $200, Not-Yet-Members: $250
This online class will examine the diverse artistic and cultural contributions of artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922–2019) within the historical context of Iranian and global art practice since the 1940s. Led by Kaveh Rafie and Leili Adibfar, PhD candidates at the University of Illinois, Chicago, class sessions will focus on the artist’s early life and work in Iran, her experience of living and working in New York, and her participation in culturally diplomatic exchanges between the two nations. The class will review Farmanfarmaian’s vast experimentations with various media and techniques, including reverse glass painting and mirror work, as well as the legacy of mirror work in contemporary Iranian art. Visit high.org for details.
