Iranian-Australian artist Yasamin Khadembashi will present her debut solo exhibition, "Dreaming in Farsi," at PS Art Space (PSAS) in Perth from January 16, 2026. The two-week show features large-scale sculptural paintings that blend Persian miniature traditions with Western portraiture, using materials like piped impasto oil paint, gold leaf, and rhinestones. Khadembashi, who has been working from a subsidized studio through the PSAS Studio 7 initiative and completed a residency at WFAC, will also include a performance element, painting in the gallery to engage visitors in dialogue about her process and themes.
The exhibition matters because it centers queer SWANA (South West Asian and North African) identities, reclaiming visibility for communities often marginalized or erased. Khadembashi's work acts as cultural preservation and resistance, celebrating resilience through art that addresses complex intersections of identity, belonging, and survival. This debut marks a significant milestone for an emerging artist whose practice spans painting, tattooing, ceramics, and installation, offering a dedicated space for queer Iranians and the wider diaspora to see themselves reflected in art.