Homa Arkani’s (b. 1983, Tehran) universe invites us to question what we perceive. Playful and provocative, her paintings, drawings, and installations explore themes of belonging, memory, and subtle resistance. Through a distinctive visual language, she reveals the complexities of identity shaped by personal and collective histories.
In her recent works, hair emerges as both symbol and substance—an entry point into broader questions of autonomy, gender, and cultural tension. Within the Iranian context, where hair is politically charged, its presence in Arkani’s practice resonates with urgency and lived experience. Her use of hair becomes a site of resistance, a code of identity, and a visual language of protest.
Arkani reclaims Surrealism as a critical tool rather than an aesthetic escape. By blending distortion, repetition, and shrine-like framing, she transforms the body into a site of cultural inscription and resistance, challenging how gender and subjectivity are shaped by power and visibility.
Shortened text by Bibi Zavieh
EDUCATION
2017, MA, Fine Arts, KASK school of arts, Ghent, Belgium
2006, BA, Graphic Design, Art & architecture university, Tehran, Iran
PAINTING SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Silent chants, Yeganeh gallery, Tehran, Iran
2023 Is it Eurus or Zephyrus? Duo exhibition with Sam Eggermont, Blanco, Ghent, Belgium
2021 A Circus on the Canal, Monastry of the Grauwzusters, University of Antwerp, Belgium
2019 Tangible Thoughts, Santo Artspace, Ghent, Belgium
2016 Where is my Ney?, Etemad gallery, Tehran, Iran
2013 Aesthetics of a Zebra, The Invisible Line gallery, London, England
2011 Share me, Mohsen gallery, Tehran, Iran
2007 Utopia, Seyhoun gallery, Tehran, Iran
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Print out loud festival, Brussels, Belgium
2025 Etalage project of Warp vzw, Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
2023 Kunst & Zwalm festival, Zwalm, Belgium
2023 Woman, life, freedom, Academy of fine arts Vienna, Austria
2023 Delen Art private show, Waterloo, Belgium
2023 Dreamy landscapes, Belgian gallery, Brussels, Belgium
2022 Dis(connected) Triennal, UPC, Duffel, Belgium
2022 The circus we are, Le Delta art centre, Namur, Belgium
2022 Sorry Not Sorry street art festival, Ghent, Belgium
2021 Pulcinella,CJK art centrum,Belgium
2020-2022 The Clown Spirit, Traveling exhibition,Ronny Van De Velde gallery, Belgian gallery, Galleria Mucciaccia
2019 Contemporary art museum of MACVAC, Valencia, Spain
2019 Kunst In Huis project, Antwerp, Belgium
2018 Komask, Royal Academy of Art, Antwerp, Belgium
2015 Performance, Boom gallery, Tehran, Iran
2014 Primio Combat, Museo di Storia Naturale – Museo Civico G.Fattori, Livorno, Italy
2013 Unexposed, traveling exhibition,European Parliament & Tour & Taxis, Belgium ,Athens, Warsaw
2012 Iranian Artists, Agoman institude, Lyon, France
2011 +me, Elahe gallery, Tehran, Iran
2010 Kitchen, Mohsen gallery, Tehran, Iran
2007 Iranian Artists, Mani gallery, Koln, Germany