Anahita Akhavan is an Iranian-Canadian artist based in Toronto. Her interdisciplinary work explores the intersections of Islamic art, architecture, and cultural identity, blending personal cultural influences with both traditional and contemporary aesthetic movements. Working primarily in painting, Akhavan uses geometric forms, spatial compositions, and symbolic ornamentation inspired by Islamic architecture and art objects to create intricate abstractions. Her work invites dialogue on themes of migration, cultural heritage, the displacement of objects, and complexities of belonging
CV
Education
2016 MFA, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
2013 BFA, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Solo Exhibitions
2025 Semblance, United Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2024 Reimagine: Narratives, AKA artist-run center, Saskatoon, SK
2024 Solo presentation at Expo Chicago, Duran Contemporarian Gallery, Chicago, IL
2023 Weaving a Garden, United Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2023 Ornamental Rhythm, Demetrio Art Group, Capital One, Toronto, ON
2022 Re-entrant, United Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2021 Unsettled, North York Arts, Toronto, ON
2016 The Unknown Territory, MFA final show, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, University of Saskatchewan
2013 Abstractive Inference, BFA final show, Negarkhane Honarha Gallery, Tehran, Iran
Selected Group Exhibition
2024 Summer Salon, Duran Contemporarian Gallery, Montreal, QC
2023 Foultitude, Project casa, Curated by Caroline Douville, Montreal, QC
2023 Echoes of Iran: A woman’s tribute, Duran Contemporarian Gallery, Montreal, QC
2020 Art Parkdale International, Gallery 1313, Toronto, ON
2020 Resilience; Redefined, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, ON
2016 Walking Through Glue Exhibition, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
2016 Way Out, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB
2015 15, University of Saskatchewan, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
2014 Prime Time, MFA process show, Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, Saskatoon, SK
Teaching Experience
2018 Drawing and Painting, Toronto School of Art, Toronto, ON
2017 Painting, Sessional Lecturer at University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
2015 Photography, Graduate teaching fellowship at University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
2015 Drawing, Graduate Teaching Fellowship at University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
Charity Auctions
2024 Art Gems Auction, Toronto, ON
2023 MAC Ball Auction, Montreal, QC
2023 C Magazine Art Auction, Toronto, ON
2023 Art with Heart, Casey House, Toronto, ON
2022 Artists For Water, Globe and Mail Center, Toronto, ON
2022 Art with Heart, Casey House, Toronto, ON
2021 Art with Heart, Casey House, Toronto, ON
2017 Art Draw, AKA Artist Run Center, Saskatoon, SK
Artist Talks
2024 University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
2024 University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
2023 C Magazine annual auction, Toronto, ON
2022 Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, Etobicoke, ON
2022 BFA Final Thesis Critique, Guest Artist, OCAD University, Toronto, ON
2021 A conversation with David Chinyama and Claudia Arana, Toronto, ON
2017 Gordon Snelgrove Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, SK
2016 University of Lethbridge, Pennys Building, Lethbridge, AB
Residencies
2025 (Forthcoming), NARS Foundation, New York, NY
2024 AKA artist-run center, Saskatoon, SK
2024 Banff Artist in Residence, Banff, AB
2018 Joya: arte+ ecología, Velez Blanco, Almeria, Spain
2016 Vorres Museum Artist Residency, Paiania, Athens, Greece
Art Fairs
2025 Plural, Duran Contemporarian, Montreal, QC
2025 Plural, United Contemporary, Montreal, QC
2024 Art Toronto, United Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2024 Plural, United Contemporary, Montreal, QC
2024 Expo Chicago, Duran Contemporarian, Chicago, IL
2023 Art Toronto, United Contemporary, Toronto, ON
2023 Future Fair, Duran Contemporarian, New York, NY
2023 Plural, Duran Contemporarian, Montreal, QC
2022 Art Toronto, United Contemporary, Toronto, ON
Awards
2024 Gloria Josephine Sapena Scholarship Endowment, Banff Center
2021 RBC Newcomer Arts Award, Neighborhood Arts
2017 Mina Forsyth Master of Fine Arts Collection Award in Art and Art History, The University of Saskatchewan
2016 “ICCC” grant, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Saskatchewan
2014 International Graduate Student Scholarship, University of Saskatchewan
2013 Second Rank Prize, Laft National Painting Festival, Historic Laft Bay Artist Residency
Press
Blakflash magazine, 41.2, 2024
Art Toronto Selects: Rajni Perera, Art Toronto, 2023
North York Arts, Unsettled
Vorres Museum, University of Saskatchewan
Collections
Global Affairs Canada Visual Art Collection
Cleveland Clinic
Royal Bank of Canada
TD Bank
BMO
Telus
Capital One
Scotia Bank
Google
Private Collections (Canada, U.S, Iran)
Thank You
Canada Council for the Arts
Ontario Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council