Abbas Zahedi’s interdisciplinary practice blends contemporary philosophy, poetics, and social dynamics with performance, sound, sculpture, and moving-image. With an emphasis on how personal and collective histories interweave, Zahedi makes connections whenever possible with people involved in the particular situations upon which he focuses, to invite others into the conversation.
Texts / Interviews
- Essay: Abbas Zahedi: 11&1, Toby Upson, Belmacz, 2021
- Review: Sonic Support Group, Roisin Tapponi, FRIEZE, 2021
- Interview: To The Sour Sowers, The Mosaic Rooms, 2021
- Interview: Fear of heaven, Kashif Sharma-Patel, AQNB, 2021
- Review (solo): Ouranophobia SW3, Hammad Nasar, Ocula, 2021
- Review (solo): Ouranophobia SW3, Chloe Carroll, Art Monthly, 2021
- Interview: Ouranophobia SW3 (solo), General Release, 2020
- Interview (video): South London Gallery (solo), 2020
- Interview (audio): The Suite (212) Sessions with Juliet Jacques, 2020
- Essay: Transactional Objects, Cedric Fauq, Mousse Magazine 71, 2020
- Review (solo): How to Make a How from a Why?, The White Pube, 2020
- Review: AMRA, Spike Island, Amy Grace, Bristol24/7, November 2019
- Review: ME, MYSELF & A I I I (2017), Laura O’Leary, 2018
- Interview: Jum’ah at the Tate: Abbas Zahedi, Amaliah.com, January 2018
Current Solo Exhibition
- 11 & 1, Belmacz, London 2021
Previous Solo Exhibitions
- Ouranophobia SW3, Chelsea Sorting Office, 2020.
- How To Make A How From A Why?, Fire Station, South London Gallery, 2020.
Selected Group Exhibitions
- Governmental Fires, (cur. Cédric Fauq), FUTURA, Prague, 2021
- In Hindsight…, Bladr, Copenhagen, 2020
- B, Belmacz, London, 2019
- Degree Show, Central Saint Martins, London, 2019
- The Age of New Babylon, Lethaby Gallery, London, 2018
- Diaspora
Pavilion, (ICF), Wolverhampton Art Gallery, 2018 - °c, clearview.ltd, London, 2018
- appetite, Apiary Studios, London, 2018
- Diaspora Pavilion, (ICF), Palazzo Pisani a Santa Marina, Venice, 2017
- rb&hArts, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, 2008
Performances / Interventions
- Radio Amnion, Technical University of Munich, 2021
- The Urgency of The Arts Assembly, Royal College of Art, 2021
- Long Table: Lament, South London Gallery, 2020
- AMRA, Spike Island, Bristol, 2019
- Rose & STEMM, Guest Projects, London, 2019
- Words that We Share, BLOCK UNIVERSE, Whitechapel Gallery, London, 2019
- Outset Grant Ceremony, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2019
- The Conch, curated by Cédric Fauq, South London Gallery, 2019
- Sermons, Rabbits Road Press & New Art Exchange, Nottingham, 2018
- Of Other Futures, Lethaby Gallery, London, 2018
- Metaphonica IV, Mercury KX Records, CSM, London, 2018
- The Boulevard, Tate Britain, London, 2018
- Studio Jum’ah, Tate Exchange, London, 2018
- 24h Livestream Residency, Youtube & King’s Cross, London, 2018
- Diaspora Pavilion, Closing Program, Venice, 2017
- Sonic Soundings, curated by Erika Tan, Online & Venice, 2017
- Standing Block, Burlington Camden, Lincoln Projects, London, 2017
- #FakeBooze, Diaspora Pavilion, Venice, 2017
- In conversation with Brian Patten, Bradford Literature Festival, 2015
Fellowships / Residencies / Projects
- Sonic Support Group, Neurofringe, Chelsea Sorting Office, 2020 – ongoing
- Becontree Forever, Create London, 2021
- To The Sour Sowers, The Mosaic Rooms, London, 2021
- Collaboration & Connection, Artangel, Online 2021
- Mental Health, Race & Masculinity, Healing Justice London, 2021
- Soul Refresher, Brent Biennial, London Borough of Culture 2020
- The Perfect Feeling, Rabbits Road Press & Bethlem Gallery, London, 2020
- Postgraduate Artist in Residence, South London Gallery, 2019/2020
- An Alternative Map of the Universe, ICF x Guest Projects, London, 2019
- Curriculum, Rabbit’s Road Press, 2018
- Live Archive, New Art Exchange, Nottingham, 2018
- Agents of Creative Change, Battersea Arts Centre, London, 2018
- Formerly Called, Wysing Arts Centre, Cambridge, 2018
- BARBEDOUN via Square Root Soda Works, London, 2015 – 2017
- School for Social Entrepreneurs Fellowship, PwC, London, 2017
- Sufra Food Bank & Kitchen, NW London, 2013
- Rumi’s Cave: Director & Resident Artist, London, 2013 – 2015
Screenings
- #DeleteTheBeans, Artangel, online, 2021
- #DeleteTheBeans, HOAX publications, online, 2020
- Body Politics and Mental Territory, DOCLISBOA, Lisbon, 2019
- Beyond the Body curated by Mania Akbari, Wolf Cinema, Berlin, 2019
- Diaspora Pavilion Closing Program, Venice, 2017
Awards
- Thinking Time, Artangel, UK, 2020
- Jerwood Arts Bursary, 2019
- Aziz Foundation Academic Scholarship, 2018
- Khadijah Saye Memorial Fund Scholarship, 2017
- Annie Blaber Scholarship, Dounie Trust, 2017
- UCL Union Centenary Social Colours, 2008
Education
- MA Contemporary Photography; Practices and Philosophies, Fine Art Programme, Central Saint Martins, 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, Dean’s list & faculty prize.
Academic
- Curating Nation, UAL Decolonising Arts Institute, 2021
- Special Lecture: Central Saint Martins, London, 2021
- Special Lecture: The Urgency of The Arts Assembly, Royal College of Art, 2021
- The Art of Disengaging, Royal College of Art, 2020
- European Forum for Advanced Practices, BAK, Utrecht, 2020 (postponed)
- Asia Art Activism Research Network, Raven Row, London, 2018
- TrAIN Co-Lab Artist Research Residency, UAL, 2019/2020
- Belief & Conflict Forum, Kings College London, 2014-2015
- Fish Bar Symposium, Grove Fish Bar, London, 2010 – 2017
Teaching
- Visiting Tutor, Visual Comm. MA, Royal College of Art, UK, 2020-2021
- Visiting Lecturer, London Metropolitan University, School of Art, 2021
- Visiting Lecturer, Kingston School of Art, London, 2021
- Visiting Tutor, BA, Central Saint Martins, London, 2021
- Visiting Tutor, FAHA, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, 2021
- Visiting Tutor, Sculpture MA, Royal College of Art, UK, 2020-2021
- Visiting Tutor, Edinburgh College of Art, UK, 2020
- Visiting Tutor, MFA, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, 2020
Selected Press / Publications
- Featured: But Is It Art?, Taylor Le Melle, ArtReview, 2021
- Featured: Top Ten Shows from the UK and Ireland, Mimi Chu, Frieze, 2021
- Podcast: Art By Stealth: Chaired by critic Hettie Judah, ArtReview, 2021
- Radio: Fugitive Voices feat. Abbas Zahedi, Movement Radio (Athens), 2021
- Featured: Art by stealth, Hettie Judah, ArtReview, 2021
- Featured: Standout Artists of 2020, Elephant Magazine, 2020
- Featured: Brent Biennial, Hettie Judah, The Guardian, 2020
- Featured: Brent Biennial, Louisa Buck, The Art Newspaper, 2020
- Featured: Brent Biennial review, Peter Scott, Apollo, 2020
- Featured: Essential Artists: Abbas Zahedi, Elephant Magazine, 2020
- News: Artangel: Thinking Time, The Guardian, 2020
- Featured: Artist To Watch: Abbas Zahedi, Contemporary Art Society, 2020
- Featured: Curating for the Age of Blackness, Cedriq Fauq, Mousse Mag., 2019
- Featured: SINK.SEXY x Abbas Zahedi, 2019
- Letter: British artists lament the value of art in schools, The Guardian, 2018
- News: Diaspora
Pavilion| Venice to Wolverhampton, E-Flux, February 2018 - Spotlight: Diaspora
Pavilion, Art Quarterly [ArtFund], Spring 2018 - News: Transforming an artist’s studio for prayer, Art Radar Journal, January 2018
- Opinion: Arts + Culture with Kazim Rashid, DAZED, January 2017
- Letter: Artists demand swift justice for Grenfell victims, The Guardian, 2017
- Television: Venice Biennale, Britain’s New Voices, BBC Two, 2017
- News: Diaspora Pavilion: Venice Biennale, Contemporary Art Society, 2017
- Television: Peter Yorke’s Hipster Handbook, BBC Four, 2016
- Feature: BARBEDOUN, Huffington Post, 2015
- Featured: OOMK zine, ISSUE 2: PRINT, 2013
- Featured: Cultural Crossroads, Roxane Zand, Sotheby’s Blog, 2012
