About Phaedra
Ms. Askarinam experienced powerlessness as a girl and as a young woman and also, being Jewish, as a religious minority. She speaks out with her voice and via her art since she now resides in a nation where she can do so without restriction. She produces work that aims to give all individuals inclusion and self-worth. Recently she has been focusing on the issue of human rights in Iran, in particular, the rights of women. The ideals of freedom and inclusion are central in her values and fuel her art.
Iranian artist Phaedra Askarinam was born and raised in Tehran. She remembers sitting down as a young girl to sew outfits for her dolls. She grew up loving the arts. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in psychology and fine arts. She is presently an American University MFA candidate and resides in Bethesda, Maryland.