Zahra Khademi

Supervisor: Professor Sussan Babaie
Funded by: The Courtauld Scholarship

Zahra Khademi is an art historian specialising in the Persianate world with a particular interest in histories of collecting, the art of endowment (waqf), and the endowment of art in early modern Iran. She is currently a PhD candidate under the supervision of Professor Sussan Babaie at The Courtauld, University of London and works closely with her for the forthcoming exhibition on the Art of the Great Mongol State to be held at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2026-27.

Previously, she worked as a Curator cum Researcher at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia and tenured as an Advisor and Cultural Heritage Expert at Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. She has curated, written and managed several exhibitions, catalogues and research projects, among them, are ‘Nowruz: Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Twelve Nations’ (MCTH 2016), ‘Islamic Bookbinding’ (IAMM, 2017) and ‘Qajar Ceramics – Bridging Tradition and Modernity’ (IAMM, 2019).

Education

PhD History of Art, The Courtauld, University of London (2023 – present)
MA History of Art, The Courtauld, University of London
MA International Contemporary Art & Design Practice

Experience

• Doctoral Researcher, The Courtauld, University of London
• Researcher cum Curator for Art of the Persianate World, Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia
• Advisor and Cultural Heritage Expert, Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts

Publications and conference papers