Faculty Member
Shirin Abedinirad is an Iranian artist and Assistant Professor of Sculpture at Utah Valley University. Her work explores identity, unity with nature, and the boundless essence of being through video, performance, land art, and installation. Rooted in minimalist use of elemental materials such as mirrors, water, and light, her practice creates reflective spaces that examine belonging, perception, and the human relationship to the natural world.
Born in Tabriz, Iran, Abedinirad began her artistic path in painting before earning degrees in graphic design and fashion. Her practice shifted toward performance and site-specific installation following a formative desert experience in 2013. Since 2010, her work has been exhibited internationally across Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and North America. She holds an MFA from Michigan State University and is the author of the Persian-language book Fashion and Conceptual Art in the 21st Century.
Major: Studio Art
Major: Fashion and Textile Design
Major: Graphic Design
3D Design, Spring 2026
3D Design, Spring 2026
BFA Project, Spring 2026
Special Topics in Art, Spring 2026
In fall 2024, my installation Reflective Journey #2 was awarded Public Awards_ Installation Category at ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This site-specific work, installed at Lookout Park, was made possible through two competitive grants_ the Featured Public Projects Grant and the Frederik Meijer Gardens Sculpture Grant. The piece continued my exploration of mirrored forms and spatial perception, inviting the public into a meditative engagement with reflection, landscape, and presence. Receiving this public award affirmed the impact of my practice within the broader community and highlighted the relevance of immersive, environmentally responsive installations in contemporary public art.
