Iranian-born artist Omid Asadi has been appointed as the new artist-in-residence at the University of Salford’s Energy House 2.0 research facility. Running from Spring 2026 through the end of the year, the residency will see Asadi collaborate with researchers at the world-leading climate laboratory, which features two massive chambers capable of simulating extreme global weather conditions. The artist plans to create new installations and sculptures in response to the facility's pioneering retrofit research, specifically focusing on a recreated 1930s-era house.
This residency highlights the increasing intersection between contemporary art and environmental science, providing a platform for artists to engage with the climate crisis through technical research. By integrating Asadi’s focus on themes of home, displacement, and memory with the facility’s mission to achieve net-zero housing, the program aims to translate complex engineering data into poignant human narratives. The collaboration underscores the University of Salford Art Collection's commitment to interdisciplinary practice and the role of art in communicating the urgency of sustainable urban development.