Born in Qazvin, Iran, in 1957, Shirin Neshat moved to the US in 1974, where she studied art. The historic rupture of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran changed her life and creative practice. She gained international prominence in 1995 with her iconic series of black and white, calligraphy-overlaid photographs,Women of Allah. She broke new ground winning the Golden Lion award at the Venice Biennale (1999) for her video installation,Turbulent, and the Silver Lion at the International Venice Film Festival (2009) for directingWomen Without Men. Solo exhibitions include shows at the Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City; Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Castello di Rivoli, Turin; the Art Institute of Chicago; the Serpentine Gallery, London; Neshat has participated in the New Orleans Biennial (2008), Documenta XI, Whitney Biennial (2000), and the Venice Biennale (1999). She lives and works in New York City.