Afruz Amighi, a Sculptor and Installation Artist based in Brooklyn

By Natalia Rossier '28

On September 24th, 2025 I had the opportunity to interview Afruz Amighi, an Iranian Sculptor and Installation Artist based in Brooklyn New York. I wanted to share some of our conversations in light of Women’s History Month. Afruz and I had a series of discussions regarding her early childhood, identity, and her political opinions on Iran. Afruz Amighi was born in Tehran in 1974, and left at the age of three during the uprising of the Iranian Revolution. 

Early Childhood

Afruz had some memories from her childhood in Iran, as she recalled sunny days and a general brightness associated with warmth and happiness. She distinctly remembers the smell of grandma’s house, something so strong and lasting. Contrary to what is assumed about Iran today, prior to the Revolution times were very peaceful for many Iranians. 

Identity

After discussing memories of Iran, Afruz and I delved into what shapes her identity. Afruz talked about a Zoroastrian belief that she holds dear to her heart, known as Dualism.

Dualism is the belief that there are forces of light and darkness within all of us and that we are constantly battling these qualities in attempts to be the best versions of ourselves.

Additionally she mentioned the effects of diaspora and assimilation. She described the challenges she faced moving to the US and how immigration causes mental dissonance, confusion, and discomfort trying to figure out who you are, especially at a young age. Fortunately for her, she believes her experience has allowed her to see the world through many different perspectives and has contributed to her overall openness. 

Political Stance

Afruz argued that the enormous wealth gap between the upper elite and majority lower class played the biggest role in the uprising of the Iranian Revolution. She felt as if the

Shah at that time made Iranian struggles feel nonexistent by holding lavish celebrations while so many Iranians lived in impoverished communities and were not properly educated. For example, the Shah held a celebration marking 2,500 years of the Persian Empire all while there were so many bigger issues to address especially with the unstable political environment. Another factor that played a critical role in the Iranian Revolution was that the Shah held a Western perspective, while traditional Iranians explicitly sought to keep their country separate from the west, creating much room for disagreement. 

Lastly, Afruz and I touched upon Iran’s depiction in Western media. We both agreed that 99% of the Western media portrays Iran in a negative light. While there is so much suffering, Iran is seen solely as its Islamic Fundamentalist government despite being so much more than that. Therefore, people tend to believe that everyone in Iran is religious or completely radical, making the realities of Iranians seem polarized. 

Photo Courtesy of barnard.edu and history.com

Edited By: Catherine Polatidis '26 and Ms. Brilliant

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