Abbas Zahedi is a London based artist, known for his interdisciplinary blend of social practice, performance, installation, moving-image, institution-building and writing. His practice emerged out of working with migrant and marginalised communities in the UK to explore the concept of neo-diaspora, and the ways in which personal and collective histories interweave.

Photo credit: Kat Perlak

Current / Forthcoming

  • Fire Station, South London Gallery, 2020.

Selected Group Exhibitions

  • B, Belmacz Gallery, London, 2019
  • The Age of New Babylon, Lethaby Gallery, London, 2018
  • Diaspora Pavilion: Venice to Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, 2018
  • Desire, Clearview Ltd, London, 2018
  • Pressure Makes Diamonds, Rich Mix, London, 2018
  • Appetite, Apiary Studios, London, 2018
  • Diaspora Pavilion, Palazzo Pisani a Santa Marina, Venice, 2017
  • Urban Dialogues, Red Gallery, London, 2012, 2013 & 2014
  • Art, Anatomy & Anthropology, Slade School of Art, UCL, 2008

Performances / Interventions

  • AMRA, Spike Island, Bristol, 2019
  • An Alternative Map of the Universe, ICF, Guest Projects, London, 2019
  • Words that We Share, BLOCK UNIVERSE, Whitechapel Gallery, London, 2019
  • Outset Grant Ceremony, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2019
  • Of Other Futures, Lethaby Gallery, London, 2018
  • Metaphonica IV: The House of Beyond Sound, Mercury KX, CSM, London, 2018
  • The Boulevard, Tate Britain, London, 2018
  • STUDIO JUM’AH, Tate Exchange, London, 2018
  • Curriculum: Will there be Hipsters in Heaven?, Rabbit’s Road Press, London, 2018
  • Standing Block, Burlington Camden, Lincoln Projects, London, 2017
  • Bradford Literature Festival, 2015

Screenings

Fellowships / Residencies / Projects

  • South London Gallery Postgraduate Artist Residency, 2019/2020
  • Co:Lab Research Associate, The Centre for Transnational Art, Identity and Nation (TrAIN), Chelsea College of Art, London, 2019/2020
  • Live Archive, New Art Exchange, Nottingham, 2018
  • Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge, 2018
  • Asia Art Activism Research Network, Raven Row, London, 2018
  • BARBEDOUN via Square Root Soda Works, London, 2015 – 2016
  • Artistic Director, Rumi’s Cave, London, 2013 – 2015
  • DISSEMINUS: Philosophy Symposium, Grove Fish Bar, London, 2011 – 2015

Awards

  • Jerwood Arts Bursary, 2019
  • Aziz Foundation Academic Scholarship, 2018
  • Khadijah Saye Memorial Fund Scholarship, 2017
  • Dounie Trust Scholarship, 2017
  • School for Social Entrepreneurs fellowship award, 2017
  • UCL Union Centenary Colours Award, 2008

Academic

  • MA, Fine Art Programme, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, 2017-2019 – Merit
  • MBBS Medicine, University College London, 2007-2012 – discontinued due to personal hardship.
  • BSc. Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, 2002-2006 – First Class Honours & faculty prize.

Interviews / Press / Publications / Writing