Artist

Drawing on her dual identity as an Iranian-American woman, Soody Sharifi explores issues of oppression, exile and integration that reflect the position of women as simultaneously inside and outside their respective cultures. Her color images from the series, “Moslem Teenagers” delves into the unique experience of teenage girls living in the Islamic world. She writes, “Teenagers as a group are constantly aware of themselves, especially as individuals between cultures. In Iran, in particular, these teens exist in and partake of the larger adult culture that surrounds them, while participating in another culture exclusive to teens.” Her photos reveal the tension between public and private spaces, depicting images that undo typical imagery of Islamic stereotypes represented through the narrow focus of the daily media.