--- title: Nina Rastgartalab Tabrizi url: https://www.artsume.com/a/nina-rastgartalab-tabriz type: artist createdAt: "2026-10-15" updatedAt: "2026-10-21" disciplines: - Sculpture - Metalwork - Woodwork - Textiles - Conceptual Art location: Toronto, ON, Canada website: https://www.ninarastgar.com birthYear: 1988 --- # Nina Rastgartalab Tabrizi *Sculpture, Metalwork, Woodwork, Textiles, Conceptual Art | Based in Toronto, ON, Canada* ## Artist Statement Words often feel inadequate when I try to speak about the conditions that shape art. For me, the personal always carries a social dimension. My lived experiences inform a practice grounded in relationships, ecological awareness, care, and critical inquiry. Making becomes a way to reflect on my surroundings and examine how social and political forces shape what is considered normal, how we inhabit space, and who is able to belong. ## About Nina Rastgar is an interdisciplinary conceptual artist, working across sculpture, performance, and installation. Raised among the Gilaki communities of Gilan province in northern Iran, a region known for its agriculture, crafts, and rich food culture, Rastgar’s early experiences continue to shape their approach to art as a relational, ecological material practice that roots care policies in action. They have worked within the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization of Gilan, engaging in crafting and farming practices that later evolved into wearable sculptures and object-based work in public and domestic spaces, where material exploration becomes a mode of cultural critique of norms. ## Curriculum Vitae ### Education - **Sept. 2025–May 2029** - PhD Student, Media and Design Innovation, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Supervisor: Dr Eliza Chandler Note from the artist: Critical study, crip study, Norm, Cultural Study, Hybrid Craft, Craftivism, sustainability art, Art education, socially engaged art, Queer theory, Materiality, Activism, research-creation, eco-feminist Ecology, Street Art, Performance, Installation, participatory art. Supervisor: Dr Eliza Chandler - **Aug. 2022–May 2025** - MFA, Studio Art, 3d study, School of Visual Arts and Design, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States - **2022–2025** - Presidential Fellowship Candidate, USC, South Carolina University, $40,000, US $40,000/ GPA: 4.0; three-year program - **Sept. 2011–Aug. 2012** - Associate degree, Graphic design, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Columbia, SC, United States - **Oct. 2006–Aug. 2010** - B.Sc., Agricultural Engineering (Agronomy and Plant Breeding), Azad Islamic University, Gilan, Iran ### Work Experience/Research Experience - **Sept. 8, 2026–Apr. 30, 2027** - Research Assistant /RA, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Dr. Miranda Campbell, Creative Industry: AI and the Arts. - **Oct. 7, 2025–June 30, 2026** - Research Assistant/RA, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Dr. Layal Shuman; Co-Author and Designer.; Journal: Typographic Portraits of Justice Dying in Institutional Statements. - **Oct. 2025–June 1, 2026** - Research Assistant/RA, Design and Technology Lab, The Creative School, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Prof. Jonathon Anderson - **Oct. 10, 2025–May 2026** - Research Assistant/ RA, TMU Artspace, Richmond 401, Artspace student-run gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada, Gallery Manager; Supervisor: Dr. Andrew Lochhead - **Jan. 7–Apr. 10, 2026** - Academic Assistant /AA, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Lucy Wowk, CRI810: Creative Collaboration. Note from the artist: o Graded and assisted in facilitating midterm and final assessments according to established rubrics. o Supported the instructor with classroom logistics (attendance, room setup, audiovisuals). - **Jan. 7–Apr. 10, 2026** - Academic Assistant /AA, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Michèle Pearson Clarke, NPF515: Gender, Race and Sexuality in Art. Note from the artist: o Graded and assisted in facilitating midterm and final assessments according to established rubrics. - **Jan. 5–Apr. 10, 2026** - Academic Assistant /AA, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Blake Lambert, NNS 101: News story. Note from the artist: o Graded and assisted in facilitating midterm and final assessments according to established rubrics. - **Apr.–Aug. 2025** - Visitor Experience Associate (VEX), Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, United States, Gallery Attendant, introducing exhibitions and desk tasks.; Tour Guide, Unique Perspective on Art and Drafts, Islamic 19th-century Collection. - **June–July 2025** - Sessional/ Temporary Faculty, School of Visual Arts and Design, Columbia, SC, United States, Introduction to Metalworking and Jewelry, Wearable Sculpture. - **Aug. 2022–May 2025** - Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), School of Visual Arts and Design, Columbia, SC, United States, Introduction to Metalworking and Jewelry Note from the artist: Teaching techniques and skills in making jewellery with (Silver, Brass, Copper, Nickel)to fourteen students each semester; non-conforming jewelry and found objects syllabus. - **Aug. 2024–May 2025** - Graduate instructional assistant (GIA), School of Visual Arts and Design, Columbia, SC, United States, Interdisciplinary relationships in the Arts Note from the artist: Grading and answering emails for 100 students, 10 hours per week. - **Aug. 2023–May 2024** - Graduate Instructional Assistant (GIA), School of Visual Arts and Design, Columbia, SC, United States, 3-Dimensional Design I: Wood, Wire, Found Object - **Aug. 2022–May 2023** - Graduate Instructional Assistant (GIA), School of Visual Arts and Design, Columbia, SC, United States, Introduction to Art Note from the artist: Grading and answering emails for 75 students, 10 hours per week. - **Apr. 2016–July 2022** - Silversmith, Instructor, Home studio-Nina Fine Arts, Rasht, Iran, Online and in-person sales market; Membership licenses issued by the Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (IRCEO) - **Apr. 2018–May 2021** - Graphic Designer, Bazargani Hamzei Company, Rasht, Iran, Part-time, hybrid - **June 2016–Sept. 2019** - Art Director, Leading Persian-English magazine, Bojnourd, Iran, Funglish Magazine, Hybrid. - **Feb.–Aug. 2019** - Assistant Curator, Graphic Designer, Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada - **July 3–13, 2019** - *Meat Grinder*, Iranian Group exhibition - **Mar. 12–30, 2019** - *Iran at a Glance*, Iranian Group Exhibition ### Volunteer Experience - **Apr.–May 2019** - Tutor, Eglinton Junior Public School, Toronto, ON, Canada, Watercolor workshop ### Certificates - **Apr. 2025–Present** - Certificate of Graduate Study, Women’s Gender Studies, USC, Columbia, SC, United States, College of Arts and Sciences; (~2029) - **Oct. 31, 2025** - Certificate of completion, Research Ethics, Tri-Council Policy Statement, TCPS 2: Core 2022, Canada - **June 2024** - Certificate of Metalsmith, John C. Campbell Folk School, Johnstown, NC, United States, 10-day workshop scholarship - **Aug.–Dec. 2017** - Certificate, Making Jewelry Wax Models, Aseman Institute Of Jewelry Industry, IRCEO, Tehran, Iran, Technical & Vocational Skill - **June 2013–Dec. 2017** - Certificate of Terrarium Farming, Technical &Vocational Training Organization, Tehran, Iran, IRCEO - **Mar. 2016–Sept. 2017** - USA-issued Certificate of Completion, Art Clay instructor, Branch Tehran, and the School of Sim Va Sang Gallery, Tehran, Iran - **Apr. 2013–June 2017** - Certificate of Completion of Landscaping Green Space and Design, IRCEO, Rasht, Iran - **June–Aug. 2008** - Certificate of Greenhouse Farming, Edible Mushrooms Farming, Technical & Vocational Training Organization, IRCEO, Rasht, Iran - **June–Aug. 2007** - Certificate of Medical Plant Farming, Technical & Vocational Training Organization, IRCEO, Rasht, Iran ### Workshops - **July 16, 2026** - Instructor, Refusal as Form: Queer Feminist Ecology Material Practice, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, GCM 810: Creativity, Clients & Design - **July 14–28, 2025** - Instructor, Metal Creative Summer Camp, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, United States - **June 3–30, 2022** - Instructor, Wax Modelling, Carving, & Shaping, Zahra Studio, Babolsar, Iran, Summer camp - **Mar. 2019–July 30, 2019** - Instructor, Watercolour workshop, Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada, four sessions to Youth and adults - Workshop, *Spring Paint Night*, one and a half hours, watercolour workshop night, and wine. ### Collection - **Nov. 2023** - Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)- Islamic Art Collection, Toronto, ON, Canada, curated by Dr. Fahmida Salman - **Nov. 2023** - USC Thomas Cooper Library Rare Book Collection, Columbia, SC, United States, Awarded the Experimental Photography Rare Book ### Awards (Scholarship, Honours, Grant) - **2026** - Toronto Arts Council Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship Program, ON, Canada - **2026** - Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), Government of Ontario / Toronto Metropolitan University, 2025–2026 - **2022–2025** - Presidential Fellowship, University of South Carolina, SC, United States - **2025** - TMU Graduate Fellowship, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Sep 2025-2026 - **2025** - Cash prize, CERF+ Get Ready, United States - **2025** - Dianne Komminsk Scholarship Award, Mid-South Sculpture Alliance, TN, United States, MSA Scholarship - **2025** - Graduate Studio Art Research Award, School of Visual Arts and Design, McMaster, Columbia, SC, United States - **2025** - Graduate School Dean’s Award for Master’s Achievement, Graduate School’s Recognition of Excellence, SC, United States, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center Note from the artist: Awarded the Graduate School Dean’s Award for Master’s Achievement, the and the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, SC, USA. - **2025** - Nominated for the Graduate School’s Recognition of Excellence ceremony as a Presidential Fellow, SC, United States, Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center - **2025** - Rosemary Broadway Award, Student Life Legacy Award for 2025, Department of Student Life, University of South Carolina, United States, Nominated - **2025** - Third-place cash prize, 70th Annual Juried Student Exhibition, USC School of Visual Arts and Design, Columbia, SC, United States, Maya Smith, Juror - **2024** - Educational Grant, Society of Inclusive Blacksmiths, United States - **2024** - First place, annual exhibition of MFA artwork at the University of Montana, United States - **2024** - Partial scholarship, Pocosin Arts School of Fine Art, NC, United States, Online steel workshop - **2024** - Full Metal Work scholarship, John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC, United States - **2024** - Full Scholarship in Metalsmithing, Penland School of Craft, Bakersville, NC, United States - **2024** - Graduate School Dean’s Award for Master’s Achievement, Graduate School’s Recognition of Excellence, SC, United States, Nominated; Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center - **2023** - Rebekah Frank Full Scholarship, Center for Metal Art, PA, United States, Forging as Surface Design - **2023** - Marie Zimmermann Legacy Full Scholarship, Peters Valley School of Craft, NJ, United States - **2023** - Finalist, Florence Biennale, Italy, international competition - **2023** - Honourable Mention, Gallery 130, University of Mississippi, United States, sculpture nominated ### Publication - **Feb. 2026** - 2026.Artist portfolio. Get Close Magazine, Feb. Independent international artist-run publication. - **2026** - Rastgar, Nina. Bride and Puppet, Vol. 1. JCACS Musings (Medium platform) - **2026** - 2026.Typographic Portraits of Justice Dying in Institutional Statements. Interdisciplinary, intersectional feminist journal, Gatherings: Studies in Gender & Sexuality, Volume 2, Fisher Digital Fabrication., Interdisciplinary, intersectional feminist journal, Volume 2, Fisher Digital Fabrication - **2025** - 2025.Book, Soils Turn, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87502, published by EcoArt Space & Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Soil Factory in Ithaca, New York, USA., Book, 87502, Soil Factory in Ithaca, New York, USA - **Sept. 2024** - 2024.Interview with Subart magazine, Summer Issue #29, September, Spain., Interview, Summer Issue - **2023** - *Being and Belonging, Contemporary Women Artists Interviewed with the Royal Ontario Museum*, published by Yale University Press. - **2023** - ArtToronto.ca Website - **2023** - CBC Radio-Canada - **2023** - DER STANDARD, Amsterdam - **2023** - The Globe and Mail, Art and Books, Kate Taylor, P83. - **2023** - The Karachi Collective - **2023** - Nuvo Magazine Journalist, Elia Essen - **2023** - Paloma Magazine - **2023** - Toronto Star online news site - **2023** - International Art magazine, Lense magazine, and XIV Florence Biennale, issue #82, International Art magazine, and XIV Florence Biennale - **2020** - 2020.The Eighth Land, A Selection of Iranian Watercolorists Painting Book, Iran - **2019** - 2019.The Eighth Land, A Selection of Iranian Watercolorists Painting Book, Iran - **2018** - 2018.Persian Garden, A Selection of Iranian Watercolorists Painting Book, Iran - **2017** - 2017.Interviewed with Art & Culture Magazine, Rome, Italy, Interviewed - **2016** - 2016.The Eighth Land, printed in A Selection of Iranian Watercolorists Painting Book, Iran. ### Residency - **Jan.–Apr. 2026** - Xu Bing Space Art Residency (SCA-3 Satellite), Xu Bing Studio & WanHoo Culture Media Co., Ltd., Beijing, orbital art project using the SCA-3 Satellite, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) - **May–Aug. 2025** - Three-month residency and Solo exhibition Award, Stormwater Studio, Columbia, SC, United States - **Aug. 2025** - Natural Dyes in Art Garden Residency, Oak Spring Garden Foundation, Upperville, VA, United States, Natural Dyes from Garden Plants, Two Weeks, Blue Ridge Mountains - **June 2024** - Penland School of Craft Short-term Residency, Penland School of Craft, Bakersville, NC, United States, Summer two-week metal residency, 12 days - **May–July 2019** - Spring Residency, Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada, Painting and Drawing, Co-curator and Artist in residency, 3 months ### Confrances - **Oct. 8, 2026** - *Border, Horizon and Humanity in Orbit. Making and Doing Main Exhibition*, Toronto, ON, Canada, Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) Annual Meeting, Conference, Research-creation, Hosted by - **Aug. 7, 2026** - *Reclaiming Venus: Performance as Situated Intervention in Public Space*, Toronto, ON, Canada, Critical Femininities: Temporalities, Virtual Conference, Research-creation, Hosted by - **Apr. 13, 2026** - Panel, *Palestine and Campus Movements, Sites of Transitional Feminist Solidarity*, A Space Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada, Gathering Journal, Palestine and Protest - **Mar. 3, 2026** - *The Intersections*, Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Cross-Sections; TMU Catalyst @ Roger Communications Centre - **Dec. 12, 2025** - *Refusing Form: Queer and Feminist Ecologies in Performance Practice*, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada, Future Communications Conference, hosted by ComCult - **Oct. 3–4, 2025** - *Dianne Komminsk Scholarship recipients*, Huntsville, AL, United States, Mid-South Sculpture Conference, MSA Online Panel - **Nov. 14–19, 2024** - Birmingham, AL, United States, Mid-South Sculpture Conference, Unfinished, Unrealized - **Mar. 1, 2024** - *Exploring Contemporary Iranian Art Practice*, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, Faculty of Arts and Science, Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalili, Institute of Iranian Studies - **Nov. 30, 2023** - Panel, *A gender Line*, Wofford College, United States, Panel Discussion - **Oct. 7, 2023** - Floyd Center, Floyd, VA, United States, Tri-State Sculpture Conference ### EXHIBITION (Group and Solo Selected) - **2026** - *Solace*, Arterial Toronto Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada, Sep-Oct - **2026** - *The Pride of Clay, Glass, Metal, Thread*, 401 Richmond Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada, Group, Craft Ontario - **2026** - *Proximities of presence*, Moss Park Espresso Café, Toronto, ON, Canada, Design To festival - **2026** - *Sculpture exhibition*, Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, United States, Department of Art and Design, Central Washington University - **2025** - *Drawing Resistance: The Artist’s Dilemma in Political Conflict*, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, United States - **2025** - *SC Biennial*, 701 CCA, Center for Contemporary Art, Columbia, SC, United States, Group - **2025** - *I Am Here*, Stormwater Gallery, Columbia, SC, United States, Solo - **2025** - *Building Bridges Through Art with Planned Parenthood*, Stormwater Gallery, SC, United States, Group - **2025** - *From Core to Surface*, Center for Metal Arts, Johnstown, PA, United States - **2025** - *Document of Absence*, Pulse and Pickle, London, United Kingdom - **2025** - *Chicken Factory*, McMaster Gallery, Columbia, SC, United States, Solo - **2025** - University of Montana, United States, Online annual exhibition of MFA artwork - **2024** - *Retro Fusion: Nostalgia Reimagined*, United States, Culturally Arts Collective’s - **2024** - *MSA Select Exhibition*, Vulcan Materials Gallery at the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, AL, United States, Juried by Vanessa German - **2024** - *Iranian Studies Biennial Conference*, (UNAM) National Museum of World Cultures, Mexico City, Group - **2024** - *Schwa Show*, Emerge Gallery, Greenville, NC, United States - **2024** - *Invisibility*, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, United States - **2024** - *South Carolina Biennale*, 701 Center for Contemporary Art, Columbia, SC, United States, Group - **2024** - *69th Annual Juried Student Exhibition*, USC School of Visual Art and Design, Columbia, SC, United States, Juried by Maya Smith, Juror - **2024** - Ecu material symposium, Greenville, NC, United States, Group wearable sculpture and jewelry show - **2023** - *Being and Belonging, Contemporary Women Artists*, ROM Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada, Painting exhibition - **2023** - *A Gender Line*, Wofford College, United States - **2023** - *Tri-State Sculpture Group Online Exhibition*, Floyd Center, Floyd, VA, United States - **2023** - *Women's Life Freedom*, Culture Lab Gallery, New York, NY, United States - **2023** - *2023.Group Online Exhibition*, Artsy, ON, Canada, Curated by Eran Art Gallery From ON - **2023** - *Women's Life Freedom*, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, United States Note from the artist: Group event exhibition in protest at art, Women's Life Freedom, Columbia Museum of Art, Columbia, SC, USA. - **2023** - ECU Material Symposium, Greenville, NC, United States, Group wearable sculpture, MFA candidate, and jeweller show - **2022** - *Khar-Mohreh*, Argo Factory, Art Museum, Tehran, Iran - **2021** - Kotti-Shop, Berlin, Germany, Two-person, video streaming, digital space in the street - **2021** - *Eyes*, Dorkhaneh Gallery, Tehran, Iran - **2019** - Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada, Group, Contact Photography Festival - **2019** - *Meat Grinder*, Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada - **2019** - *Iran at a glance*, Queen Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada - **2018** - *Untitled*, Seyhoon Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran, Solo - **2018** - *Queer Art of Resistance*, Arta Gallery, Toronto, ON, Canada - **2017** - *Junction*, Linda Farrel Gallery, Paris, France - **2017** - *Alef ta Ye*, Posk Gallery, London, United Kingdom - **2017** - *Aghakhan*, Abtin Gallery, Tehran, Iran, Group - **2017** - *2017.Group Painting Exhibitions*, Federation of Canadian Artists (FCA), Vancouver, BC, Canada ### Performances - **May 2026** - *𝐴=𝜋r2*, TMU Campus, Toronto, ON, Canada, Performance and mixed-media documentation, Ashizawa, K. & Rastgar, N. - **2026** - Toronto Art Foundation, Toronto, ON, Canada, Newcomer Day, Street Performance, Nathan Philips Square Map, Mint Gardening - **2025** - *Philosophy of Five Points*, Beyond Innovation Center, Columbia, SC, United States, Performance with a handmade Fabric head mask - **2024** - *Tax month*, Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Museum, Birmingham, AL, United States, MSA performance exhibition, Performance with a metal object, held in partnership with Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark Museum - **2024** - *Relation*, Penland School of Art and Craft, NC, United States, Solo performance for solidarity - **2019** - *having a Talent is Not Enough*, Mohsen Gallery, Tehran, Iran, Darbast Platform ## Portfolio ### Reclaiming Venus, Performance with object (2026) --- ### Dicipline (2026) --- ### Keep count on them (2025) *Steel* --- ### Chicken Factory (2025) *Clay* --- ### Unreachable (2025) ## Links - **Website:** https://www.ninarastgar.com