Afsaneh Modiramani was born in 1967 in Tehran, where she currently lives and works. She studied Handicrafts of Iran at the University of Fine Arts in Isfahan and has over 30 years of experience in textile and carpet design.
She has completed various specialized courses in painting and silkscreen printing, which have enriched her artistic approach and technical versatility. For many years, she has worked professionally in the field of carpet design—both for industrial production and handwoven pieces.
She received a “Grade One” artistic license—equivalent to a Ph.D.—from the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran for textile design and weaving. Her work has been recognized with the UNESCO Award of Excellence for Handicrafts and by the World Crafts Council.
Afsaneh has also taught textile design and weaving at art universities for over a decade. In 2020–2021, she was selected as one of the thirteen finalists for the prestigious LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize.
From 1990 to 2025, she has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, textile expos, and art venues across Iran and internationally, including France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, Australia, China, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. In addition to exhibiting her work, she has served as a jury member for textile and weaving exhibitions and has curated several shows focused on contemporary textile art and craft.
Statement:
My work is rooted in the experience of living in Tehran—a city shaped by rapid urban growth and constant motion. These changes have altered our connection to nature and to ourselves.
Through weaving, I explore slowness and repetition as a way to reflect and reconnect. Each piece is a response to the tension between tradition and modern life, between natural textures and industrial rhythms.
I use textile as a language to express quiet resistance—an invitation to pause, observe, and feel.
Highlights:
Solo exhibitions
2025-Ceaseless, Bostan Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2022 – A City for Everyone, “O” Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2019 – A Little Space to Live, “O” Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2018 – On Edge, Electric Room – Dastan Gallery, Tehran, Iran
Awards
2015 – Artistic Grade One (Ph.D. equivalent) in textile design and weaving, Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization
2014 – UNESCO Award of Excellence & World Crafts Council recognition for textile weaving, Jakarta, Indonesia
2014 – Iran National Handicraft Seal for textile, Tehran, Iran
Biennale
2016 – Venice Architecture Biennale, Iran Pavilion, Venice, Italy
Other notable Projects
2020–2021 – Finalist, LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize
2015–2016 – Benetton Art Project, Carpet design and weaving, Venice, Italy
