Bio

sass is a painter and a poet based in London who graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Studio from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science degree in Pure Mathematics from Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

sass has been a fellow of Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, 2023, and Kala Art Institute, 2022. They are the author of Mahbubeh, the Poor Farm Press, 2021. sass has participated in the Viewing Program, The Drawing Center, New York, NY, 2021, Separate Boundary, Iranian Artists’ Forum, Tehran, Iran, 2021, The Annual Exhibition of the Association of Iranian Painters (AIP), 2020.

Their work shows in the UK, USA, Germany and Iran. Recent exhibitions include solo show at Lungley Gallery, London, Dig and Rise, The Kala Gallery, Berkeley, CA, Spider on Hairs, Stiftung Künstlerdorf, Schöppingen, Germany, 2023; Present Artifact, Ralph Arnold Gallery, Loyola University Chicago, 2021; Kolombeh, 6018NORTH, Chicago, IL, 2019; Sahand Bijeh [Kalam] Zanjani, Azad Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2017, Percussive Planes, Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2016. Also, They have performed at Chicago Cultural Center and Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL, 2019, Links Hall, New Blood XII, Chicago, IL, 2018.

sass also talked on various platforms, including Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany, Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA, Drawing Center, NYC, NY, Monira Foundation, Jersey City, NJ, Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.

CV

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts in Studio: Painting and Drawing, School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Bachelor of Science. Pure Mathematics, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

ART PROGRAM

2023
Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen residency program, Schöppingen, Germany.

2022
Kala Art Institute, Fellowship, Berkeley, CA.

2021
The Drawing Center, Viewing Program, Panel Discussion with Lisa Sigal, Instagram Live Studio Visit, The Drawing Center, New York City, NY.

SOLO

2024
sass popoli, Lungley Gallery, London, UK.

2023
Spider on Hairs, Stiftung Künstlerdorf, Schöppingen, Germany.

2020
['Toilet Paper'](), Crossroads Gallery of the ND Center for Civic Innovation, The Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture, curated by Jahan Khajavi, South Bend, IN.

2019
Kolombeh, Please Take a Seat and Tell Me Your Name, 6018NORTH, Chicago, IL.

2017
Sahand Bijeh [Kalam] Zanjani, Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran.

2016
Percussive Planes, Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran.

GROUP

2024
Souvenir, Light Beams Under A Bridge Vol. 9, London, UK.
From Lips to the Moon, reading poems with Tara Fatehi, Pouya Ehsaei, Hammadi Rencurrel Valdes (percussions), Lagnajita Mukhopadhyay (poet), Oluwaseun Olayiwola (poet), Phoenix Yemi(poet), and Lars from Earth (DJ), London, UK.
NY Art Book Fair (NYABF), via Falgoush, NYC, NY.
Brooklyn Art Book Fair, Eighth annual (BKABF), via Falgoush, Brooklyn, NY.
Paris Ass Book Fair, via Falgoush, Paris, Fr.

2023
Belonging, reading with Annalee Davis, Muna Gurung, Tamar Noort, and Maë Schwinghammer, and
Beyond Literature, Poetry Reading, Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany.
Dig and Rise, The Kala Gallery, Berkeley, CA.

2022
Small Press Book Bazaar, SFMOMA, San Francisco, CA.

2021
Present Artifact, Ralph Arnold Gallery, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Terrain Biennal, Olivia Gallery, Curated by Jess Bass, Andy Hunt, Rob Sohmer, Chicago, IL.
Separate Boundary, Iranian Artists’ Forum, Tehran, Iran.

2020
The Annual Exhibition of the Association of Iranian Painters (AIP), Tehran, Iran.
The Future of Our Plans, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Long Hello, Curated by Carter Foster, The Green Gallery, Milwaukee, WI.

2019
With a Capital P: Selections by Six Painters, Jose Lerma, Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL.
IDEAL: The World As We Want It, Curated by: Sara Zielinski, Sullivan Center, Chicago, IL.

2018
24 Hour News Cycle, Curated by Alex Keller, Maclean Center, Chicago, IL.

2017
Postcardese, Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran.
Immediacy 2, Haan Art Gallery, Shiraz, Iran.
Shabtab 2, Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran.

2016
Peace on Paper, Niyavaran Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran.

PUBLICATION

2024
i’m spring clouds of smiles, self-published, London, UK.

2021
“Mahbubeh,” Sahand Heshmati Afshar, published by Poor Farm Press, Manawa, WI.

TALK

2022
Open Book: Mahbubeh by Sahand Heshmati Afshar, Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL.

2021
Present Artifact, Ralph Arnold Gallery, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL.
In Conversation: Viewing Program, Akum Maduka, Sahand Heshmati Afshar and Sophie Grant, Drawing Center, NYC, NY.
Instagram Live with Viewing Program Artist Sahand Heshmati Afshar, Drawing Center, NYC, NY.

2020
Grad Talk, Painting and Drawing Department, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.

COLLABORATION

2024
common /play\ grounds, The Mosaic Rooms, London, UK. (with yasamin ghalehnoie)

2023
FEAST OF THE ASS, Jahan Khajavi, Ugly Duckling Presse, Brooklyn, NY. (Designing the book cover)
Passing It On: Lessons Learnt from the Fair and Equitable pilot phase, CVAN, London, UK. (Designing the layout)

2021
Todas Somos Una. En Voz Alta, Beyond Bounds: Arts Administration Symposium, Chicago, IL. (Camara and audio for Sofia Gabriel)

2020
Becoming the insect, International Virtual performance art happening, The Trojan Donkey, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. (Camera for Irene Wa.).

2019
Never Again This Time: composition for 6 lamps after Alex Forrest, Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL. (Performance for Aram Atamian).
Inner Compulsion, OGGI Gallery, Chicago, IL. (reading poem for the closing of Elnaz Javani Inner Compulsion)
Trisha and Homer, for Cherrie Yu, Body + Camera 2019, Chicago Cultural Center and Links Hall, Chicago, IL. (Performance for Cherrie Yu).

PRESS

2020
January Parkos Arnall, “Eyes On 8.17.20”, Chicago, IL. (Online)
Yolanda Cesta Cursach Montilla, “Eyes On 8.8.20”, Chicago, IL. (Online)
Lori Waxman, “60 WRD/MIN ART CRITIC”, Chicago, IL. (Online)
Lori Waxman, “Are You A Foreign Artist? - Round Three”, Quarantine Times, Chicago, IL. (Online)
Sahand Heshmati Afshar interviewed by Cui, Decheng

2017
Financial Tribune. “Criminals Portrayed at Azad Art Gallery,” Tehran, Iran. (Online)
Sahar Eftekharzadeh, “هر کدامتان میتوانید بر روی این مبل بنشینید”, Tandis Magazine, Tehran, Iran. (Online)

COLLECTION

James Graham Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.
Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, Germany.
Kala Art Institute, Berkeley, CA.
MOP Foundation, London, UK.
John M. Flaxman Library, Special Collections, Chicago, IL.
Columbia College Chicago Library, Main Stacks, Chicago, IL.
Don Layden Jr., private collection, Milwaukee, WI.
Rozita Sharfjahan, Azad Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran.
Saber Abar, INJA Gallery, Tehran, Iran.

AWARD/ GRANT

2024
Project Grants, Arts Council England, UK. (with yasamin ghalehnoie)

2023
Stiftung Künstlerdorf Schöppingen, fellowship, Schöppingen, Germany.

2021
Kala Art Institute, Fellowship, Berkeley, CA.
Emergency Grant for Artists, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, NYC, NY.
Artist Relief Grant, Artist Relief Consortium, Chicago, IL.

2020
James Nelson Raymond Fellowships and the Municipal Art League Award Finalist, Chicago, IL.

2019
Helen Frankenthaler Foundation Travel Grant, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL.
School of The Art Institute of Chicago, International Affairs, Chicago, IL.

2018
School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Incentive, Chicago, IL.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2019
Instructor of Record, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.
Teacher Assistant, Painting and Drawing Department, Continuing Studies, Contemporary Practices, School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.

2018
Teacher Assistant, Painting and Drawing Department and Film, Video, New Media, and Animation Department, School of The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL.