I like to depict our reactions to situations of danger and anxiety. My subjects live on their impulses and are disobedient, mischievous, and ambiguous with their relationship to power, violence, seduction, and each other. Nothing we do is ever black or white, it’s this gray area I’m interested in. – Sanam Khatibi
Sanam Khatibi’s work explores notions of animality and the primal impulses that we all share. At the core of her practice is a questioning of our relationship with power structures, and the duality of triumph and failure. The recurrent themes that feature in her work are chaos, destruction, excess, loss of control, domination, and submission. Khatibi is also interested in the thin line that exists between fear and desire, and how closely they are interrelated.
Her subjects live on their impulses, set within alluring, exotic, and dangerous landscapes. Wildlife and animals are an integral part of her practice, and her figures are often depicted within the same plane as the flora and fauna. Power, violence, and sensuality mingle, intermix, and overlap with each other ambiguously, giving rise to multifaceted scenarios that juxtapose the animal and the human, past and present, cruelty and seduction.
Her practice consists of paintings, embroideries, tapestries, sculptures, and installations.
Sanam Khatibi (Belgian with Iranian heritage) lives and works between Paris and Brussels.
Her recent solo shows include Mendes Wood DM, Paris (2025, upcoming); P·P·O·W, New York (2024); Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo (2022); Groeninge Museum, Bruges (2021); Kunsthal Gent, Ghent (2020); rodolphe janssen, Brussels (2019); BPS22 – Musée d’art de la Province de Hainaut, Charleroi (2019).
Khatibi’s work has also been part of institutional group shows at Dallas Contemporary, Dallas (2025, upcoming); S.M.A.K., Ghent (2025, upcoming); Plains Art Museum, Fargo (2024); National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens (2022); Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort (2022); Centraal Museum, Utrecht (2021); S.M.A.K., Ghent (2021); Kortrijk Triennial, Kortrijk (2021); Kunstverein Dresden, Dresden (2020); Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (M HKA), Antwerp (2020); 16th Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul (2019); Centre Régional d’Art Contemporaine (CRAC) Occitaine, Sète (2018); Musée d’Art Contemporain (MAC), Marseille (2018); Museum of Deinze and the Leie Region, Denize (2016).
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The Hunger
Sanam Khatibi Apr 3 – May 17, 2025 Paris‘Water shakes the rain from rooftops That of ivy castles It was green – water churned. There were draperies Ancient stem garrison Hidden hearts of Mélusines Beneath muffled blooms. Never...View Exhibition -
Avec Lucas Arruda, Sanam Khatibi, Patricia Leite, Paula Siebra, Marcos Siqueira, Erika Verzutti et Castiel Vitorino
Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato En Conversation Aug 31 – Oct 5, 2024 ParisMendes Wood DM is proud to announce Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato En Conversation, a group exhibition in Paris that draws together works by Amadeo Luciano Lorenzato alongside contemporary artists Lucas Arruda,...View Exhibition -
Linhas Tortas
Curated by Diana Campbell Sep 2 – Nov 4, 2023 São Paulo, Barra FundaLinhas Tortas is a multi-venue international group exhibition that celebrates the entanglements of journeys and the power of storytelling, marking a decade of Mendes Wood DM. Inspired by the Brazilian...View Exhibition -
Linhas Tortas
Curated by Diana Campbell Sep 2 – Nov 11, 2023 São Paulo, Casa IramaiaLinhas Tortas is a multi-venue international group exhibition that celebrates the entanglements of journeys and the power of storytelling, marking a decade of Mendes Wood DM. Inspired by the Brazilian...View Exhibition -
Paper Trails
Group Show Jul 29 – Aug 8, 2023 D'Ouwe Kerke, RetranchementOpen every day | 11am to 6pm d'Ouwe Kerke Dorpsstraat 16 4525 AH Retranchement The Netherlands Osama Alrayyan, Laís Amaral, Lucas Arruda, Patricia Ayres, Alvaro Barrington, Paloma Bosquê, Castiel Vitorino...View Exhibition -
In my dreams, I kill him every night
Sanam Khatibi Jun 4 – Aug 6, 2022 São Paulo, Barra FundaSanam Khatibi’s work explores notions of animality and the primal impulses that we all share. At the core of her practice is a questioning of our relationship with power structures,...View Exhibition
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