Fragmented Frames: Sculptural Paintings by Arghavan Khosravi

Iranian-born, US-based painter Arghavan Khosravi creates striking sculptural paintings that combine expressive portraits, architectural elements and unexpected objects. Her works often extend off the wall, folding painted figures into carved frames, shelves and layered fragments. Drawing from Persian miniature traditions, Arghavan blends ornate patterning and luminous color with a quiet, unsettling sense of tension.

Figures appear partially concealed, fragmented or interrupted by rigid structures, chains or cutouts. Faces peer through windows, panels block vision, and bodies feel physically constrained by their surroundings. These formal choices reflect the themes running through her practice, including exile, memory, gender and the push and pull between freedom and control. Decorative surfaces, floral motifs and jewel-toned gradients soften the compositions, even as the imagery hints at restriction and surveillance.

Arghavan’s merger of painting and sculpture gives her work a distinct physical presence. Everything feels carefully constructed, with symbolism embedded into both image and structure. Personal experience sits at the core of her practice, while the work opens onto broader questions of identity, power and belonging.

For more of Arghavan Khosravi’s fascinating work, head over to her website.

More art on the grid via Colossal