Ali Banisadr talks alchemy at MFA St. Petersburg exhibition
The Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg has opened a new exhibition titled "Ali Banisadr: The Alchemist," featuring two decades of work by the artist Ali Banisadr. The show runs through July 12, 2026, and includes recurring figures drawn from ancient Egyptian tarot cards and other historical symbols, as well as references to artificial intelligence and a dinosaur-headed self-portrait. Senior curator Stanton Thomas, who typically works with Old Masters, collaborated directly with Banisadr on the exhibition.