Artist Talk by Siah Armajani

A rare opportunity to hear exhibiting artist Siah Armajani discuss his relationship to public art, in the context of America’s shifting political environments. Born in Tehran in 1939, now living and working in Minneapolis, Armajani has been producing large-scale public art commissions in the USA for over five decades, and is internationally renowned for his bridges, reading rooms and poetry gardens.

Siah Armajani’s sources of influence are rooted in his own Persian cultural heritage, his knowledge of Western philosophy, literature and poetry, and his interest in American vernacular architecture. He combines text, idea and a distinct use of space to convey his belief in democracy and open communication as essential requirements for a healthy society. This importance of idea over function has positioned Armajani as a pioneer of art in the public realm.