cv

Education

• 2010–2015/16 The University of Oxford (St John’s College), Oxford, UK – (the Lamb and Flag Scholarship)

-        Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Fine Art (Practice and Theory)

• 2008–2009 The University of Southampton, Southampton, UK           

-        Master of Arts (MA) in Textile Design  

• 2002–2006 Tehran University of Art, Tehran, Iran                                        

-        Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Carpets//Textiles (Practice and Theory)   

• 2002–2004 The University of Media, Tehran, Iran

-        Associate Degree (A.A.) in Photography (Photojournalism) 

Professional Development

• 2020 How to Teach Online? – Workshop, Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Liverpool, UK
• 2015 Agile Objects: Teaching and Learning in Museums, Galleries, and Collections – Series of workshops held at the Ashmolean Museum (funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation), Oxford, UK
• 2011–2012 Preparation for Learning and Teaching at Oxford (PLTO) – The Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, UK

Teaching 

• 2023 – ongoing, Lecturer in Persian Studies, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, UK
• 2015–2023 Lecturer (part-time), Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford, UK
• 2020–2023 Lecturer (part-time), Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre, The University of Oxford, UK
• 2018 Teaching Fellow, The Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK
• 2017–2018 Visiting Research Fellow, The Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), UCL, London, UK
• 2017 Visiting Lecturer, Department of Asian and African Studies, National Research University, Higher School of Economics (HSE), St Petersburg, Russia
• 2012 Lecturer (selected lectures in Fine Art and Visual Communicationat at the BA level), HK Buddhist College/China (Summer School at Brasenose College – Oxford), Oxford, UK
• 2012–2014 Tutor (selected tutorials in Fine Art at the BA level), The Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, UK

 One (and Two) Person Exhibitions

• 2024 Between Ornament and Structure, Barvinskyi Gallery, Vienna, Austria
• 2024 Fault Lines, O Gallery, Tehran, Iran
• 2023 Enclaves, The Kendrew Barn Gallery, Oxford, UK
• 2020 Cut from the Same Cloth (Yekparche), O Gallery, Tehran, Iran
• 2017 Letters in Space, Farniyaz Zaker and Václav Magid, National Centre for Contemporary Arts (NCCA) / the State Museum and Exhibition Centre “ROSIZO”, Kronstadt - St Petersburg, Russia (two person)
• 2016 Something There Was That Must Have Loved a Wall, Pi Artworks Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2014 Primeval Relationship, The Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
• 2014 Puppets, exhibited as part of Islamic Arts Festival (I.A.F.) at the Sharjah Art Museum, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
• 2013 Re-Enveloped, King’s Way Hall, Goldsmiths College, London, UK
• 2013 Repeated Return, Dolphin Gallery, St John’s College, Oxford, UK
• 2012 [HYPHENATED], Farniyaz Zaker and Jessica Draper, The North Wall Gallery, Oxford, UK (two person)
• 2011 Pardeh, Old Masters Study, The Ruskin School of Art, Oxford, UK                                             

Selected Group Exhibitions, Art Fairs and Biennales

• 2024 LICHTFEST Krems, Austria (forthcoming)
• 2024 Paper Positions Art Fair, O Gallery, Berlin, Germany
• 2021 Artissima Art Fair, O Gallery, Turin, Italy
• 2019 CYLAND, Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design, Saint Petersburg, Russia
• 2019 Venice Biennale, ID (as part of CIFEST-12: ART: TECH Exhibition) - a fringe exhibition during the Venice Biennale 2019, Ca’ Foscari Zattere, Venice, Italy
• 2019 BEN HER ZAMAN ÖTEKİ’NİN ALANINDAYIM - The I is Always in the Field of the Other, A Selection From Agah Uğur Collection - curated by: Beral Madra, Müze Evliyagil, Ankara, Turkey
• 2018 Kronstadt Stories—3. Slowness, curated by Elena Gubanova, Lydia Griaznova, State Museum of the History of St Petersburg (Saint Petersburg Museum of Printing), August – September
• 2017–2018 Hit Parade – Sculpture Project, Museo dell'Auto, Turin, Italy, November 2017 – March 2018
• 2018 Animali Notturni – The Dark Side of Life, IAAD, Bologna, Italy
• 2016 The Slow Disappearance Of Meaning and Truth, curated by Eleonora Angela Maria Ignazzi & Francesca Pich, Paratissima 12, Turin, Italy
• 2015–2016 Fortress Man, Mark Rothko Museum and Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia, November 2015 – January 2016
• 2015 Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair, Pi Artworks, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2014 A House Is Not A Hotel, Pi Artworks Gallery, London, UK
• 2014 8° International Arte Laguna Prize, Arsenale di Venezia, Venice, Italy
• 2013 The Wall of Europe, Paese Museo, San Sperate, Sardinia, Italy
• 2013 Mapleton Bree Prize, Kendrew Barn Gallery, St John’s College, Oxford, UK
• 2012 WEYA, UK Young Artists, Bonington Gallery | Nottingham Trent University, UK
• 2012 Rewind Pause, Fast Forward: Mirrors on Iran, Pi Artworks Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2012 Contemporary Istanbul Art Fair, Etemad Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey
• 2012 mise–en–scène, Etemad Gallery, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• 2012 In site, The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK
• 2012 Ruskin Shorts, Phoenix Cinema, Oxford, UK
• 2011 International Print Biennale, Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, UK
• 2011 Power House, The Old Power Station-Osney, Oxford, UK
• 2011 Surplus to Requirements?, Slade Research Centre and Gallery, London, UK
• 2010 The Art of Nurture - Lloyds TSB, Watershed Gallery, Bristol, UK
• 2009 10 Days at the Laundry, The Yard, Old Hyde Laundry, Winchester, UK
• 2009 THIS LEADS HERE, Winchester Gallery, Winchester School of Art, UK
• 2009 The Art of Nurture - Lloyds TSB, Watershed Gallery, Bristol, UK
• 2008 in-between (MA show), Winchester School of Art, Winchester, UK
• 2006 Shafaghi Tabriz Prize, Niyavaran Palace, Tehran, Iran
• 2003 Kaveh Golestan Photojournalism Prize, Khane Honarmandan Gallery, Tehran, Iran
• 2002 World Art and Worship, Niyavaran Gallery, Tehran, Iran
• 2002 The First Festival of Art for Art Students, Tehran University of Art, Tehran, Iran

Selected Fellowships and Art Residencies

• 2018 Teaching Fellow, The Ashmolean Museum, The University of Oxford, UK
• 2017–2018 Visiting Research Fellow, The Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), UCL, London, UK
• 2017 Artist in residence, National Centre for Contemporary Arts (NCCA) / the State Museum and Exhibition Center “ROSIZO”, St Petersburg, Russia 
• 2015 Artist in residence, Mark Rothko Museum and Art Centre, Daugavpils, Latvia 
• 2013 Artist in residence, Paese Museo, No Arte – The Wall of Europe, San Sperate Sardinia, Italy
• 2012 Artist in residence, WEYA: UK Young Artists, Nottingham, UK
• 2004 Artist in residence, Marine, See and Navigation Organization, Chabahar, Iran

 Grants, Awards, Prizes, and Scholarships

• Letter of Recognition for Outstanding Teaching – Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre (ONGC), University of Oxford, UK, 2021
• Grant for Syllabus and Teaching Material Creation – Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre (ONGC), University of Oxford, UK, 2020
• Winner of the Hit Parade Art Prize – Paratissima 12, Turin, Italy, 2016
• Special Grant – St John’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, 2014
• Finalist – Arte Laguna Prize (Installation and Sculpture Section), Venice, Italy, 2014
• Award (covering travel and production costs) – Sharjah Museum of Contemporary Art, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, 2014
• The Lamb and Flag Scholarship (for pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy – covering university fees and living costs) – St John’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, 2011–2013
• Selected for The State of Art (Installation and Sculpture Section) – Bare Hill Publishing House, London, UK, 2013
• Award (covering production costs) – Goldsmiths College, University of London, London, UK, 2013
• Special Grant – St John’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, 2012
• Grant – The Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, 2012
• Finalist at ‘WEYA’ – UK Young Artists, Nottingham, UK, 2012
• Winner of the Birgit Skiöld Memorial Trust Prize – International Print Biennale, Newcastle, UK, 2011
• Regional Finalist – Lloyds TSB, Art of Nurture, Bristol, UK, 2009 and 2010
• Finalist at ‘Shafaghi Tabriz’ – Art and Design Competition, Niyavaran Palace, Tehran, Iran, 2006
• Finalist at ‘Kaveh Golestan Photojournalism Competition’ – Khane Honarmandan Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2003
• Finalist at ‘World Art and Worship, Photography Competition’ – Niyavaran Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2002
• Winner of First Prize in Photography – First Festival of Art for Art Students, Tehran University of Art, Tehran, Iran, 2002

Publications

• Farniyaz Zaker, “Facile Contemporariness: Modernist Architecture and Dress Reform in Early Pahlavi Iran,” submitted to Journal of Design History (forthcoming).
• Farniyaz Zaker, “Between Ornament and Structure: Carpets in Modern Art and Architecture,” Textile Museum Journal, Volume 51, November 2024 (forthcoming).
• Farniyaz Zaker, “Jenseits: Place, Dwelling and Art Practice,” Oxford Artistic and Practice-Based Research Platform (OAR), Issue 1, 2017, pp. 111–117.
• Farniyaz Zaker, “A Room Without Boundaries: Ai Weiwei at The Royal Academy of Arts,” Home Cultures Journal, Issue 13:2, 2016, pp. 221–223.
• Farniyaz Zaker, “Home, Displacement, and the Body: Mona Hatoum at Tate Modern | London,” Romulus Magazine, 2016, pp. 12–13.
• Mariam Motamedi Fraser and Farniyaz Zaker, “Words and Walls, Texts and Textiles,” Theory, Culture & Society Journal, 2015, Vol. 32(3), pp. 115–134.
• Farniyaz Zaker, “Earthly Paradise: Identity and Place,” Oculus Magazine - The Journal of the Edgar Wind Society for Art History, 2015, pp. 37 and 46–47.
• Farniyaz Zaker, “Dealing with an Image: Representation of Iranian Women in Iranian Contemporary Art,” aRm Magazine (The Ruskin Magazine), Third Issue, April 2013, pp. 14–15.

Selected Interviews 

• Farniyaz Zaker and Francesca Pirillo, “An Interview with Farniyaz Zaker,” Made in Mind Magazine, Autumn 2016, Issue 8, pp. 25–37.
• Farniyaz Zaker and Levant Ozata, “Bölgeler ve Sınırları Aşan Sanatçı,” Istanbul Art News, January 2016, p. 22.
• Farniyaz Zaker and Meltem Yilmaz, “Umutlu Kaygı Arasında: An Interview,” Cumhuriyet Newspaper: Kültür Sanat, 2 July 2012, p. 6.
• Farniyaz Zaker, Mahmud Bakhshi, and Firat Demir, “Parmaklıkların Arkasına Bir Medeniyet: An Interview,” Art Unlimited, Issue 18, 2012, pp. 112–113.
• Farniyaz Zaker, Elnaz Farajollahi, and Jenny Hewett, “Iranian Art at Gallery Etemad in Dubai: Interview,” Time Out Dubai, 10 July 2012.

Selected Conference Talks / Public Lectures

• “Between Ornament and Structure” – Barvinskyi Gallery, Vienna, Austria, 2024
• “Stalinist Cultural Diplomacy Towards Iran: Soviet Orientalists at the 1934 Ferdowsi's Millennial Celebration in Tehran” – University of Exeter, UK, 2019
• “Russo-Iranian Relations Through the Prism of the Life of Fatemeh Sayyah” – Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland, 2019
• “Architecture and Place in Classical Persian Miniature Painting” – Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), University College London (UCL), UK, 2018
• “Urban Space as a White Canvas: The Politics of Architecture and Fashion in Twentieth Century Iran” – IUAES: Commission on the Middle East, Visual Culture, Law and Gender in the Middle East and North Africa, Krakow, Poland, 2016
• “Something There Was That Must Have Loved a Wall: A Conversation Between Farniyaz Zaker and Ceren Arkman” – Pi Artworks Gallery, Istanbul, Turkey, 2016
• “Architecture of Iran: From Metaphysical Places to Physical Non-Places” – St John’s College, University of Oxford, UK, 2015
• “Re-Enveloped: Words and Walls, Texts and Textiles” – A Conversation Between Farniyaz Zaker and Mariam Motamedi Fraser, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK, 2013
• “Representation of Women in Iranian Contemporary Art” – Cultural Identities in Art and Art Practice, GOA Project, Brasenose College, University of Oxford, UK, December 2012
• “The Veil as Architecture: Conceptualisation and Genderisation of the Private and Public Space in Iran” – Women’s Rights Research Seminar, St Antony's College, University of Oxford, UK, 2012
• “Diasporic Iranian Art: A Response to the Social and Political Idiosyncrasies Inside Iran” – WSA Graduate School Conference, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, UK, 2010

Outreach

• 2014&2015 Sessions for students (A Level) and their teachers, Organized by The London Centre for Languages and Cultures (LCLC), in collaboration with Pembroke College Oxford, The Open University, and William Morris Sixth Form, with funding from the London Schools Excellence Fund (supported by the Mayor of London and Department for Education) 6th November 2014 and 28th January 2015

Curation & Organization of Exhibitions and Symposiums

• The Middle East from the Margin, Commission of the Middle East (IUAES), Institut Français d'Études Anatoliennes (IFEA) and Orient-Institut, Istanbul, Turkey – September 2022 (Executive Secretary)
• The Reinvention of Traditions in the Middle East, Commission of the Middle East (IUAES), Orient-Institut, Istanbul, Turkey – 2021 (Executive Secretary)
•  Anthropology of Art and Architecture, Panel Chair, IUAES, Commission of the Middle East, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland – 2017
• [HYPHENATED] – The North Wall Gallery, curated by Farniyaz Zaker and Jess Draper, Oxford, UK – 2012
• In Site: Exhibition and Symposium (Art as a Mode of Enquiry) – The Ashmolean Museum, The Ruskin School of Art, and St John’s College, Oxford, UK – 2012 (Curating Committee)
• Power House – Old Power Station, Oxford, UK – 2011 (Curating Committee)

Designs and Commissions

• Milad Tower – Commissioned by the Municipality of Tehran and MTE UAE to design the carpets for the interiors of Milad Tower, 2007–2008.
• Public Buildings and Hotels – Zaker’s designs are featured in numerous public buildings and hotels in the UAE and Iran, including:
  • Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, Dubai, UAE
  • Hyatt Hotel Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • Dubai Renaissance Hotel, Dubai, UAE
  • Dubai Marriott Hotel, Dubai, UAE
  • Dubai IBIS Hotel, Dubai, UAE
  • Dubai Novotel Hotel, Dubai, UAE
  • Laleh Hotel, Tehran, Iran
  • Homa International Hotels, Tehran, Iran
• Pattern Catalogues for Textiles and Carpets – Exhibited at Domotex – Interior Design Fair, Hanover, Germany, 2007 and 2008.

Languages

English (fluent); Persian (native), Azeri Turkish (native); Ottoman Turkish (reading and comprehension skills); Arabic, Spanish and German  (good knowledge)