Arghavan Khosravi’s architectural portraits challenge gendered norms

2026-05-16

Arghavan Khosravi, an Iranian artist, uniquely combines elements of Persian architecture with Christian altarpieces to address the structures and ideological restrictions in our lives. Her work, deeply rooted in the struggle for women’s equality, confronts issues of censorship and religious dogma prevalent in her homeland Iran. Through her vibrant gradients and sculptural paintings, Khosravi invites you to engage in crucial discussions about resistance and control.

New exhibition: What Remains

Opening at Uffner & Liu, “What Remains” showcases Khosravi’s new body of work that captures moments of tension and conflict. Her figures are often confined and linked to domestic objects and spaces, critically and physically isolated from each other. The artworks feature hinged shutters, suspended cords, and hidden faces, symbolizing women obscured by their environments, revealing only fragments such as a limb or face.

For example, the piece titled “Suspended” (2026) uses various materials including acrylic, wood panel, leather cord, and plexiglass to create a complex and dimensional portrait. It’s 27 1/2 x 30 x 19 inches in size, showcasing Khosravi’s meticulous attention to detail.

arghavan khosravi breaks through gendered restrictions in he image 2 — “The Whisper” (2026), acrylic on shaped wood panel, acrylic on canvas mounted over shaped wood panel, 70 x 85 x 7 1/4 inches

Personal and political reflections

Focusing inward, Khosravi illustrates her homesickness and desire for a transformed Iran. Located in Stamford, Connecticut, she channels her emotions into large-scale works like “Bearing,” which depicts a woman supporting a Persian building from which black, oil-like liquid seeps, reflecting instability.

The gallery notes that “What Remains” was underway before recent U.S. conflicts with Iran. Thus, the artworks do not respond to any specific event but rather acknowledge living in a region fraught with incessant crises. Khosravi’s art offers a reminder that amidst chaos and oppressive governance, there remains room for beauty and self-empowerment to instigate change.

The exhibition “What Remains” is set to run through July 2 in New York. Discover more of Khosravi’s politically engaged works on her Instagram page.