Amir Hariri

Amir Hariri uses a forensic survey of indirect impressions and relies heavily on personal/collective memory to inquire if visceral qualities of decay influence our experiences, memories and, ultimately, our sense of history. I use decay to inspire my deconstructive abstractions and interventions. My interest in the nuanced qualities of decomposition stem from my fascination with abandoned and dilapidated buildings that formed my childhood playgrounds. More recently, due to the pandemic and the devastation being caused by climate change, this approach has been broadened to also consider how contagion, both external and self-inflicted, can turn familiar configurations into abstracted and, at times, alien depictions that highlight the intrinsic qualities of traumatic amalgamation. 

Hariri was born in Tehran, Iran, and immigrated to the United States to attend college in the early 1990s. After earning a Masters’ degrees in engineering from Cornell University, he spent over a decade working on design projects from concert halls and museums to glass designs for Apple. Amir also spent 5 years studying painting and printmaking at the Art Students League, during which time he served as an assistant instructor and as a member of the board. Amir has exhibited nationally and internationally, with pieces included in public and private collections in the United States, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, and Japan. Recent awards include the Museum of Arts and Design and NARS Foundation residencies, Smack Mellon 'Hot Picks' and the NYFA Fellowship.