Artist Negar Ahkami + Access and Inclusion

Museum Way

On this episode of Museum Way, we talk with artist Negar Ahkami, featured in The Beyond: Georgia O'Keeffe and Contemporary Art. Ahkami’s paintings are colorful collisions of influence and critique that she refers to as “an aesthetic of contradiction.” She incorporates Persian architecture and design into her paintings as a proxy for Iranian culture alongside a stylized cartoon aesthetic. Growing up in the U.S., she was acutely aware of her identity as an American, but one who was constantly defending her Iranian heritage. While her fusion of styles underscores her own sense of cultural hybridity, the work reflects Ahkami’s idea that Iran is presented in American media as a “cartoon” of its real self. We also chat with Kim Crowell, Associate Museum Educator in Access and Inclusive Programs and Accessibility Coordinator, about museum programs focused on access and inclusion. Thanks for tuning in to Museum Way! View the transcript here!