Tooraj Khamenehzadeh (born 1976, Qazvin, Iran) is an Iranian artist, curator, and arts organizer based in New York. As an artist, his practice incorporates photography, video, and installation, often drawing on his background in theater. In addition to his artistic practice, he is also recognized for his role in founding and directing artist residency programs and cultural exchange initiatives [1]
Khamenehzadeh initially pursued theater but, under family and social pressures, studied computer engineering instead, which caused him to set aside theater. During this time, he turned to photography, which soon became his primary medium. He moved to Tehran, drawn by the city’s larger art scene. In 2007, he participated in the Triangle Arts Trust's International Workshop[2] in Kashmir, India, organized by KHOJ, an experience he later described as transformative.[3] He subsequently joined further international artist residencies and interdisciplinary programs, which shaped his later interest in and commitment to fostering international dialogue through arts programs that brought together artists, writers, and curators across disciplines and borders. He later moved to New York, where he earned an MFA in Photography, Video, and Related Media from the School of Visual Arts[4][5]
Artistic practice
Khamenehzadeh’s practice explores themes of solitude, memory, transformation, and the human condition, often engaging with broader social and political contexts. Informed by his early work in theater, he incorporates performative strategies and frequently combines staged and documentary approaches in his photography and video projects. His work has been presented in solo and group exhibitions and featured in biennales, museums, art fairs, and publications internationally, including in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the United States[1]
2006 – I have been here..., Mahe-Mehr Gallery, Tehran, Iran [18]
2005 – 9th Iran Photo Biennial, Saba Cultural Center, Tehran, Iran [18]
1999 – 2nd Student Festival of Film, Scenario and Photography, Tehran, Iran [18]
Curatorial and organizational work
Beyond his artistic practice, Khamenehzadeh has been involved in founding arts initiatives and curatorial projects. He was a founding member of the Rybon Art Center (2008–2017) and the Kooshk Residency (2014–2019), two Tehran-based platforms that supported interdisciplinary collaboration and international exchange.[22] He co-organized the first Res Artis Annual Meeting in the Middle East (2016, Tehran),[23] which brought together over 100 international artist residency leaders. He has also curated and co-curated exhibitions such as Haft Paykar [24] (Seven Beauties) at Mohsen Gallery (2019, with Natasha Chuk) and Visual Dialogue between Switzerland and Iran at the Iranian Artists Forum (2013). In addition, he has served on selection committees and juries, including TADAEX06/NODE Exchange Program,[25] the Kooshk Residency Awards,[26] and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts.
Selected publications
2025: Contemporary Photography in Iran, Aram Mohammadi, Palgrave Macmillan, London, UK [27]
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