Artist Statement/ Biography

Ali Kaeini, an Iranian artist, explores themes of displacement and historical identity through his art. His work delves into memories, forgetfulness, war, power, and solitude, drawing inspiration from Iranian history, art, and architecture. Ali creates intricate geometric structures intertwined with organic, spiral forms, departing from traditional techniques in a rebellious manner. His suspended paintings in space create a sense of barrier and wall, each painting acting as an independent landscape and a wall in front of another. The silhouettes of museum objects in his work serve as metaphors for the displaced body.

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Ali earned his MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2023. In 2024, he received the MacDowell Fellowship and was also a recipient of the VMFA Professional Award. In 2023, he was awarded the Hamiltonian Fellowship and the VCCA Artist of Color Fellowship. He also attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2019. His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across the U.S. and the Middle East, including at DDDD in New York, Delgosha Gallery in Tehran, and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (VMOCA). He currently lives and works in New York, NY.
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