Faegheh Shirazi

Faegheh (Fawn) Shirazi is a retired Professor Emeritus from the University of Texas at Austin’s Department of Middle Eastern Studies.

About Faegheh Shirazi:

A native of Iran, she is an accomplished artist with over 25 years of experience in painting and a lifelong passion for textile and fiber arts, having created clothing and textile pieces since the age of 14. 

Her art and academic work are deeply intertwined: 

  • Artistic Style: She uses acrylics for their versatility, creating works that emphasize vivid colors, free expression, and experimental shapes over realistic reproduction.
  • Influences: Her work is inspired by German Expressionism, focusing on emotional expression through simplified shapes and bright, non-realistic colors.
  • Textile/Fiber Art: She creates modern quilts and has extensive experience in embroidery, patching, and fabric arts, often utilizing them as “silent communicators”.
  • Published Work: Five of her original paintings have been featured on the covers of her own academic books, and her art has been featured on books authored by Anousha Shahsavari.
  • Exhibitions: She has participated in several group art exhibitions showcasing both her
    paintings and modern quilt pieces.

 

Shirazi received a PhD from Ohio State University in Textiles and Clothing in 1985. Her academic research at UT Austin focused on material culture, textiles, veiling, and popular religious practices in Iran.

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