Ala Ebtekar (b. 1978, Berkeley, CA) is an artist whose practice over the past two decades has focused on collapsing concepts of time and space to bring attention to contemporary moments. He skillfully orchestrates elements of time in his work, blending sculptural and photographic possibilities that offer a cosmic and temporal perspective.
Ebtekar’s creative process draws from a diverse range of historical and technological image-making traditions, from ancient practices to the latest production technologies. His recent works explore ideas of scientific duration beyond human timelines, emphasizing cosmic travel and the nature of light. Using light as a central theme and medium, he incorporates radiation from sunlight, moonlight, and starlight to create photographic works that unfold over time, sometimes taking an entire night to expose, reflecting his collaboration with celestial elements.
In addition to his engagement with light, Ebtekar employs traditional techniques such as bookmaking, manuscript illumination, and Iranian coffeehouse painting. This blend of practices connects his work to centuries-old traditions, integrating elements of text, image archives, poetry, and translation, making his art both timeless and contemporary.
Through his exploration of the cosmos, Ebtekar encourages a reflective experience, prompting viewers to look inward as they gaze outward. His work embodies a sense of endurance, illustrating how contemporary moments coexist within an infinite expanse.
As a transnational artist, Ebtekar’s extensive studio practice and public art experience have led to his role as the founder and director of Stanford University’s “Art, Social Space and Public Discourse,” an initiative that examines the evolving contexts of public space through art. He is also a founding member of Stanford’s Creative Cities working group, contributing to global dialogues on civic life and cultural production.
Ebtekar has received numerous public and civic art commissions, including projects for San Francisco International Airport, Alserkal Avenue in the UAE, the City of Oakland, the Asian Art Museum, and Meta HQ in Menlo Park, CA.
He holds an MFA from Stanford University and a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute. Ebtekar’s work has been exhibited internationally at institutions such as ZKM – Museum for Contemporary Art (Germany), the British Museum, the Xinjiang Biennale, the California Biennial, Maraya Art Centre (UAE), Asia Society (NYC), Blaffer Art Museum (Houston), San Diego Museum of Art, Honolulu Museum of Art, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (San Francisco), Aga Khan Museum (Toronto), and Brooklyn Museum (NY).
His works are part of notable collections, including the British Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, Devi Art Foundation (India), Orange County Museum of Art, Deutsche Bank (Germany), de Young Fine Arts Museum (San Francisco), Crocker Art Museum, Microsoft Art Collection, Berkeley Art Museum, and UCSF Medical Center.
Ebtekar has participated in artist residencies at ZKM (Germany), Cité Internationale des Arts (Paris), 18th Street Art Center (Los Angeles), Sazmanab (Tehran), and the San Francisco Center for the Book.
