Multidisciplinary Artist & Filmmaker
Toronto, Canada
EDUCATION
Ontario College Graduate Certificate — College Teacher Training for Internationally Educated Professionals
George Brown College, Toronto, Canada | 2016
Master of Fine Arts (Painting)
University of Art, Tehran, Iran | 1997
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting)
University of Art, Tehran, Iran | 1994
Bachelor of Arts (Translation)
Azad University, Tehran, Northern Branch, Iran | 1997
SELECTED AWARDS, GRANTS & HONOURS
Best Experimental Short, A Palette of Rich Colours, Chicago Indie Film Awards, 2026
Recipient of multiple project grants from the Canada Council for the Arts,
Recipient of Toronto Arts Council Mentorship Grants, serving as mentor to newcomer artists
Shortlisted for the Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize (MOPCAP), London, UK, 2009
Grand Prize, International Dhaka Biennial, for the video installation Rising Up or Falling Down, 2003–2004
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS, SCREENINGS & FESTIVALS
2026 — What The Land Remembers, group exhibition, Curated by Amirali Ghassemi, Argos Centre for audiovisual arts, Brussels, Belgium
2026 — A Palette of Rich Colours, Chicago Indie Film Awards, Chicago, USA
2025 — Portraiture Now, group exhibition, Advocartsy, Santa Monica, California, USA
2024 — The Edge of the Cloud, video installation, Woman, Life, Freedom, in collaboration with Saarlandmuseum, Saarländische Galerie, Berlin, Germany
2023 — Unsolicited Love Letters, multichannel video installation, Saarlandmuseum, Saarbrücken, Germany
2023 — Second Paykan ArtCar, multimedia installation, launched at the Oslo Freedom Forum, Oslo, Norway
2023 — Elephant in the Dark, multimedia installation, curated by Dr. Michael Chagnon, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Canada
2023 — Solo exhibition, Sahar K. Boluki Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2022 — Video installation, Image? The Power of the Visual, curated by Dr. Marika Sardar, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Canada
2021 — Drawing, Advocartsy, Los Angeles, California, USA
2021 — Video installation, Tehran Auction, represented by Etemad Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2021 — Video installation, Sheen Gallery, Tehran, Iran; curated by Sanam Samanian
2020 — Video installation, 30+ Flowlogy, curated by A. H. Ordouei, Iranshahr Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2019 — School Diary, video installation, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Canada
2019 — Video installation, Body Politics, curated by Mania Akbari and A. Ghasemi, Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK
2019 — Video installation, curated by Teodora Talhos, Galleria de Arta Reperaj, Oradea, Romania
2019 — Painting, group exhibition, curated by Roshi Rahnama, Advocartsy, Santa Monica, California, USA
2019 — First Act, Second Act, solo exhibition, Etemad Gallery, Tehran, Iran
2018 — Painting, Iranian contemporary art group exhibition, Advocartsy & MAP, SOMArts Cultural Center, San Francisco, USA
2017 — Video installation, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Canada
Highlights
- Master of Fine Arts degree in painting combined with expertise in drawing, new media, and video arts.
- Winner of the Grand Prize of the International Dhaka Biennial 2003-2004 for the Video Installation, “Rising up or falling down.”
- Short listed for the MOPCAP Prize (Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize), London, England, 2009
- Renown for social-political themes in different artistic projects in painting, drawing, video arts and new media
Grants, Prizes or Awards
- Two times successful candidate to receive a Grant from the Canada Council for the Arts, 2015 and 2018
- Winner of the Grand Prize of the International Dhaka Biennial 2003-2004 for the Video Installation, “Rising up or falling down.”
- Short listed for the MOPCAP prize (Magic of Persia Contemporary Art Prize), 2009, London, England
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books & Catalogues Featuring the Artist’s Work
Collective Traumas and Future Fantasies – Resisting Arts in Iran and the Diasporas
Raika Khorshidian (Editor), Brigit Mersmann (Editor), Catherine Bublatzky (Editor), Julia Stenzer (Editor)
Language: English ISBN: 10.11116/9789461668158, Publication date: Nov. 30, 2026, GPRC
Rethinking the Contemporary Art of Iran, illustrated survey of contemporary Iranian art, 2024
Michael Chagnon, Rumi: A Visual Journey Through the Life and Legacy of a Sufi Mystic, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, 2023
Okzidentalismen: Projektionen und Reflexionen des Westens in Kunst, Ästhetik und Kultur, 2022
Marika Sardar, ed., Image? The Power of the Visual, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, 2022
Julia Allerstorfer, Visuelle Identitäten: Künstlerische Selbstinszenierungen in der zeitgenössischen iranischen Videokunst, 2018
Harald Pechlaner and Elisa Innerhofer, eds., Künstler Unterwegs: Wege und Grenzen des Reisens, Nomos, 2018
Glenn Harcourt, The Artist, The Censor, and The Nude: A Tale of Morality and Appropriation, DoppelHouse Press, Los Angeles, 2017
Hamid Keshmirshekan, Contemporary Iranian Art: New Perspectives, Saqi Books, London, 2013
Staci Gem Scheiwiller, Performing the Iranian State: Visual Culture and Representations of Iranian Identity, Anthem Press, 2013
Only the Morning Bird Treasures the Flower Garden, ed. Mehraneh Atashi, REDCAT, Los Angeles, 2019
Selected Articles & Critical Writing
Shiva Balaghi, “A Crooked Path through History: Iranian Exile Art,” Social Research
Julia Allerstorfer, “What Is the Role of Beauty in International Contemporary Art?”, ArtForum International
“Harper’s Bazaar,” November 2023
Julia Allerstorfer, Kunst und Kirche, “Post-Orientalismus?”, 2019
Julia Allerstorfer, Kritische Berichte, 2019
Priscilla Frank, “14 Iranian Artists Explore Just How Complex Immigration and Identity Can Be,” Huffington Post, 2017
Christopher Wiedmann, “Klein, Fein, Präzise,” Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2014
Ingo Arend, “It’s All About Change: Snapshots from Tehran’s Contemporary Art Scene,” Nafas Magazine, 2011
Behrang Samadzadegan, “The Judge of Other’s Judgment: A Glance at the Works of Simin Keramati,” Art Tomorrow, 2011
Katherine Butler, “Iran’s Hybrids Unveiled,” The Independent, 2009
Susann Wintsch, “Iran.com: Iranian Art Today,” Nafas Magazine, 2006
SELECTED WRITING & TRANSLATION
Parvin E’tesami, “The Amiss Denunciation,” translated into English by Simin Keramati, Ellipse Magazine, 2024
“The United Patchworks,” article on contemporary Iranian art and artists, Tirgan Magazine, Toronto, 2015
“Digital Art and Photography,” Honar Nameh – Quarterly of Arts Research, University of Art, Tehran, 2004
SELECTED ACADEMIC RESEARCH FEATURING THE ARTIST’S WORK
Kiana Darvish-Mansouri, The Space Between the Lands: Migration in the Works of Iranian Canadian Diasporic Artists, MA thesis, Carleton University, Ottawa, 2021
Julia Allerstorfer, Representing the Unrepresentable: De/constructive Strategies of Re/presenting Identity in Contemporary Iranian Video Art on the Example of Simin Keramati and Shahram Entekhabi, doctoral research, Catholic Theological Private University Linz, Austria, 2014
- Representing the unrepresentable. De/constructive strategies of re/presenting identity in contemporary Iranian Video art on example of Simin Keramati and Shahram Entekhabi
Julia Alerstrofer PHD. . Catholic theological university Linz Upper Austris. 2014.
- A Crooked Path through History: Iranian Exile Art, Shiva Balaghi
- Ellipse Magazineو The Amiss Denunciation by Parvin E’tesami, 2024
- چهرهها: سیمین کرامتی، «من یک هنرمند زن خاورمیانهای در تبعید نیستم، من یک هنرمندم»
- Harper’s Bazaar, November 2023
- What is the role of beauty in international contemporary art?, ArtForum International magazine, Article by Dr. Julia Allerstorfer, What is the role of beauty in international contemporary art?, Volume 286, German Language
- Kunst und Kirche, [magazine fur kritik, asthetik und religion], Post-Orientalismus?, 3.2019 / www.kunstundkirche.com
- Kristiche berichte 2.2019, [magazine] zeitschrift fur Kunst- und kulturwissenscheften, Jahrgang 47, Jonas Verlag, Article by Julia Allerstorfer
- 14 Iranian Artists Explore Just How Complex Immigration And Identity Can Be In a tumultuous time for American foreign policy, these artists offer nuanced views of what it means to be Iranian. And Article by: prievilla Frank, Feb. 2 2017, Huufington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/iranian-contemporary-artists_us_5891f136e4b0c90eff012b31
- Iran’s Hybrids unveiled Women in the Islamic Republic are minding East and West in their battle against the chador as a new exhibition of female artists show
An article by Katherine Butler. The Independant. www.independant.co.uk . 2009 - It’s all about change Snapshots from Tehran contemporary art scene
An article by Ingo Arend. Nafas Magazine. www.universes-in-universe.org . 2011 - Klein, Fein, Prazise Drei Ausstellungen in der Memmingen Kunsthalle
An article by Christofer Wiedmann in German news paper: KULTUR Donnerstag. 20 Februar 2014.Nr. 42 Suddeufsche Zeitung. 2014 - The Judge of Other’s Judgment a glance at the works of Simin Keramati An article by Behrang Samadzadegan. Art Tomorrow Contemporary Art Magazine. No. +3. Winter2011.
- Iran .com, Iranian art today, by Susann Wintch, Dec. 2009, Nafas Magazine. https://universes.art/en/nafas/articles/2006/irancom-iranian-art-today
- The united patchworks, An article on today’s Iranian art and Iranian artists working and living inside Iran and in other countries, by me Simin Keramati, Tirgan Magazine, Celebrating Iranian Arts and Culture in Canada, August 2015, Toronto
TEACHING, MENTORSHIP & ARTS SERVICE
CanDo Collective, Toronto
Co-Founder, Educator & Board Member | 2024–Present
Teach drawing and video art and mentor participants in developing their artistic practices.
Organize artist talks, workshops, and intercultural arts events.
Toronto Arts Council, Toronto
Mentor, Visual Arts & Multidisciplinary Arts | 2022–Present
Mentor newcomer and emerging artists in artistic development and professional practice.
Canadian Contemporary School of Art (CCSA), Toronto
Art Instructor | 2019–2020
Developed and taught drawing and painting courses for children and youth ages 7–17.
Taught figurative drawing, portraiture, art fundamentals, and a range of painting media.
Prussian Blue Art Studio, Toronto
Art Instructor | 2016–2019
Taught drawing and painting, including figurative drawing, still life, and a range of media.
Introduced students to new media and video art practices.
York University, Toronto
MFA Advisory Committee Member | 2016–2017
Provided critiques and mentorship to MFA students.
George Brown College, Toronto
Teacher Mentee, School of Design | 2016
Taught Foundation Drawing II as part of the College Teacher Training for Internationally Educated Professionals Program.
Research Project in Collaboration with the University of Toronto, Toronto
Workshop Instructor | 2015–2016
Developed and facilitated drawing and painting workshops for youth and community participants, including young mothers experiencing homelessness.
Azad University, Tehran
Fine Arts Educator | 1998–2012
Taught undergraduate painting and drawing courses.
Supervised approximately 70 BA and MA thesis projects and mentored students in research, writing, and artistic development.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ARTS SERVICE
Board Member, SALOON Toronto | 2022–Present
Professional Artist Member, CARFAC Ontario | 2022–Present
Co-Founder, Iranian Canadian Visual Arts Association (ICVAA), Toronto | 2018–2023
Exhibition & Publication Officer, Iranian Painters Association, Tehran | 2001–2010
