Azadeh Hussaini
Chicago, IL
VERTICAL LIVING, 2025
cardboard and threads, dimensions vary
Vertical Living is an expanded iteration of an installation that began as a sound piece, blending my American friend’s reflections on home with everyday sounds from Tehran—bazaar ambiance, vendor chatter, and street musicians—creating a multilayered sensory experience.
Constructed primarily from cardboard, the work embodies the essence of shared shelter within dense cityscapes, incorporating elements that reflect human desires, demands, and protests—such as graffiti, satellite dishes, and other symbolic features. By integrating remnants of fundamental social patterns and relationships, Vertical Living visually articulates the collective efforts of individuals striving to create and claim a common space for solace and refuge. The piece is deeply informed by my personal experiences of migration and living among people from diverse social strata.
Artist bio
Azadeh Hussaini is an Iranian-American visual artist and art educator based in Chicago. She holds an MFA in Non-figurative Painting from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and a BFA in Painting from Azad Art University in Tehran. Drawing upon her experiences as an immigrant visual artist, she has synthesized the lessons garnered from her years in Iran with her American encounters, seamlessly integrating them into her artistic expression. She employs various mediums, including installation, drawing, assemblage, and sculpture, to explore her own emotional responses to her experiences. Simultaneously, her work delves into the fundamental primal desires within the human condition,seeking to uncover commonalities among individuals while providing platforms for open discussion and social empowerment. Beyond her role as a visual artist, Azadeh is deeply committed to education and community engagement. She shares her expertise with others as a faculty member at both the Evanston Art Center and Highland Park Art Center. Additionally, she co-founded the Didaar Art Collective, an Iranian Chicago-Based art community fostering collaboration and cultural exchange. Azadeh's dedication to serving her community extends beyond the art world. She generously volunteers with Refugee-One, providing support and assistance to refugees resettling in Chicago. Her passion for social justice is further evident in her collaboration as a collaborator with Tajrish Circle, an Iranian-based magazine, with a keen interest in Women’s studies and feminism. Azadeh uses these activities to nurture her artistic vision, infusing her artwork with deeper layers of meaning and insight. Azadeh's artwork has garnered widespread acclaim, with her pieces featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions both nationallyand internationally.