EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Illustration, California State University, Long Beach, CA, 2020

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Graphic Design, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, 2015

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ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

Adjunct Lecturer, School of Art

California State University, Long Beach, CA, Fall 2022 – Present

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TEACHING & ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

• Teaching and Graduate Assistant

California State University, Long Beach, CA, 2017 – 2019

• Art History Research Assistant

CSULB Research Foundation, Long Beach, CA, 2020

Assisted Dr. Mariah Proctor Tiffany with research on overlooked Iranian tile artists at Doris Duke’s Shangri La

• Visiting Artist Coordinator

California State University, Long Beach, CA, 2020

• Visiting Artist

Saddleback College, Mission Viejo, CA, 2022

Led experimental printmaking workshops and delivered a public artist talk in conjunction with a solo exhibition

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PUBLICATIONS​

Featured Artist, Voyage LA Magazine

“Rising Stars: Sara Hassan Khani of Long Beach,” Jan. 28, 2025

Featured Artist, Los Angeles Times,

“Origin Stories: Artists examine and protect their past at OCCCA,” Oct. 31, 2024

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AWARDS, GRANTS & HONORS

• Artist in Residence, Camera Obscura Art Lab, Santa Monica, CA (2025–2026 cohort)

• Grantee, Professional Artist Fellowship, Arts Council for Long Beach (2024–2025)

• Finalist, Alpine Fellowship Visual Art Prize, 2025

• Finalist, New Voices Artist Cohort, NY Print Center, New York, NY, 2024

• Artist Panelist, Original Sources Artist Cohort, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA, 2024

• Finalist, Assistant Professor of Studio Art, San Diego Mesa College, 2024

• Distinguished Achievement in Creative Activity Award, CSULB School of Art, 2020

• Marilyn Werby Endowed Scholarship, 2019

• John Baldessari Scholarship, 2018

• Public Art Project Commission, designed ten murals for the Baharestan Annual Festival for Nowruz, Tehran, Iran, 2016

 

EXHIBITIONS

 

Solo Exhibitions

• Pieces, Saddleback College Art Gallery, Mission Viejo, CA, 2022

• Path, Werby Gallery, CSULB, Long Beach, CA, 2020

• Talkhun, Tehran Gallery, University of Tehran, Iran, 2016

 

Selected Group Exhibitions

• Revelate, Professional Artist Fellowship Exhibition, Billie Jean King Library, Long Beach, CA, 2025–2026

• Original Sources, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA, 2024

• Spring ’24, Icehouse Arts Complex, Long Beach, CA, 2024

• Please Wait, Saddleback College Art Gallery, Mission Viejo, CA, 2022

• Khor Art Initiative, Saray Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2020

• Insights, Kleefeld Contemporary Museum, Long Beach, CA, 2019

• Fourth Annual Illustration Week, Tehran Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2019

• President House Selection, California State University, Long Beach, CA, 2019

• Made in California, Brea City Art Gallery, Brea, CA, 2019

• All Media Exhibition, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine, CA, 2018

 

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Artist Collective Curatorial Member

Monte Vista Projects, Los Angeles, CA, 2025 – Present

Los Angeles–based artist-run collective producing exhibitions and public programs

Collaborates internationally with artist-run spaces and centers underrepresented artists

• Co-Founder, drawing-house Collective, Long Beach, CA, 2023 – Present

Organized annual figure drawing sessions and managed scheduling and logistics.

• Developmental and Community Art Instructor, ECF Art Center, San Pedro, CA,

2021 – 2022

Taught studio art to adults with disabilities in one-on-one and group settings

Organized community art workshops and events

Founded and managed So-Cal Artists Meet-Up, a year-long weekly artist talk and workshop series connecting artists with disabilities to practicing artists and curators

• Artist Collective Member, Level Ground Art Collective, Los Angeles, CA, 2021 – 2022

Nonprofit collective led by queer, Black, and Brown artists

• Fine Artist, Icehouse Arts Complex, Long Beach, CA, 2021 – Present

 

SKILLS & TECHNICAL EXPERTISE

• Studio Practices: Painting, Drawing, Printmaking (Intaglio, Monotype, Relief), Illustration (Traditional & Digital), Graphic Design (Editorial)

• Teaching & Professional Skills: Curriculum Development, Foundation Instruction, Community Engagement, Workshop Facilitation, Program Coordination

• Software: Adobe Creative Suite, Canvas, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office