Afruz Amighi is an Iranian‑American visual artist whose practice encompasses sculpture, installation, drawing, and performance. Born in Tehran, Iran, she later immigrated to the United States, where she pursued formal art education, receiving a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California, Irvine. Amighi’s work is noted for its use of industrial and craft materials—such as metal, wood, and textile fibers—to explore themes of cultural identity, migration, and the intersections of tradition and modernity.
Career and Exhibitions
Since the early 2000s, Amighi has exhibited internationally in solo and group shows. Notable exhibitions include solo presentations at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Pavilion, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA), and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston. Her installations have been featured in public spaces such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Venice Biennale. In addition to gallery and museum work, Amighi has participated in artist residencies at institutions including the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts (Nebraska) and the Delfina Foundation (London).
Artistic Themes and Materials
Amighi frequently employs hand‑crafted techniques that reference both Iranian artisanal traditions and contemporary industrial processes. Metalwork, particularly welded steel and copper, is a recurring medium, often juxtaposed with delicate textile structures. Critics have highlighted her ability to create tension between durability and fragility, suggesting commentary on the complexities of diaspora and cultural memory.
Public Collections
Works by Afruz Amighi are held in several public and private collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, and the British Museum in London.
Recognition
Amighi has received multiple awards and grants, among them a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her contributions to contemporary art have been discussed in publications such as Artforum, Frieze, and The New York Times.
Personal Life
Amighi resides and works in Los Angeles, California. She maintains an active role in educational initiatives, lecturing at universities and conducting workshops focused on interdisciplinary art practices.