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Faculty of Fine Arts

Leila Zelli

2021-2022, UQAM

A corner view of a darkened gallery space that features a large video projection on the right wall. The projection shows a desert-like landscape with black fabric draped over a chain link fence. Pinpricks of light can be seen on the left wall. Terrain de jeux, 2019 by Leila Zelli. View of the exhibition at Galerie de l’UQÀM Master’s graduation exhibition. Credit: Galerie de l’UQÀM

Born in Tehran (Iran), Leila Zelli lives and works in Montréal. She holds an MFA (2020) and a BFA (2016) in Visual and Media Arts from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

Zelli is interested in the relationship that we have with the ideas of "others” and “elsewhere” and more specifically within this geopolitical space often referred to by the questionable term “Middle East.”

Her work has been shown, among others, at the Bradley Ertaskiran Gallery (2020), at the Conseil des arts de Montréal (2019-2020), at Galerie de l’UQAM (2020, 2019, 2015) and at the Foire en art actuel in Québec (2019). Her works are part of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts collection, the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec’s Prêt d’oeuvres d’art collection, the Musée d’art contemporain de Baie-Saint-Paul collection and the collection of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec.

See more of Leila Zelli's work

A small, circular vignette in the center of a dark background reveals a red rose lying on a textured, light-colored surface. Terrains de jeux, 2019 by Leila Zelli. View of the exhibition at Galerie de l’UQÀM Master’s graduation exhibition. Credit: Galerie de l’UQÀM
A small, circular vignette in the center of a dark background reveals a fragmented, light-colored structure. The structure appears to be damaged or broken. The foreground shows a cluster reddish flowers and green stems that are out of focus. Terrains de jeux, 2019 by Leila Zelli. View of the exhibition at Galerie de l’UQÀM Master’s graduation exhibition. Credit: Galerie de l’UQÀM
A black screen nearly covers a blue sky, only a strip of blue sky and a few wispy clouds are visible. Centered in the black space is a caption that reads: I'm the one who likes to play the most Terrains de jeux, 2019 by Leila Zelli. View of the exhibition at Galerie de l’UQÀM Master’s graduation exhibition. Credit: Galerie de l’UQÀM
Still image from an animation. A dark background with abstract, ornate patterns in gold and brown tones. A metallic leaf-like shape is on the right. A light blue speech bubble at the bottom reads, "What does it mean to be an #Iran expert?" Le chant des oiseaux by Leila Zilli, 2019. Still image from animated video exhibited at Arts du Tout-Monde at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
A dark background with abstract, ornate patterns in gold and brown tones. A metallic leaf-like shape is on the right. A dark blue speech bubble at the bottom contains text in French: "En #Iran, tous les mercredis, des femmes se battent contre l'obligation de porter le voile en se prenant en photo, cheveux au vent." Le chant des oiseaux by Leila Zilli, 2019. Still image from animated video exhibited at Arts du Tout-Monde at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
A darkened gallery space that features a large video projection of a desert-like landscape with black fabric draped over a chain link fence. Specks of white are scattered around the black fabric. Terrains de jeux, 2019 by Leila Zelli. View of the exhibition at Galerie de l’UQÀM Master’s graduation exhibition. Credit: Galerie de l’UQÀM
A composite image made from several photos of girls in various states of activity, movement, or exercise. Some girls are wearing traditional black, Iranian dress, and others are wearing t-shirts and pants. Pourquoi devrais-je m'arrêter, 2020 by Leila Zelli. Still image.
A closer view of a desert-like landscape with black fabric draped over a chain link fence. The fabric billows in the wind, and one corner is blurred from the movement. Specks of white are scattered around the black fabric. Terrains de jeux, 2019 by Leila Zelli. View of the exhibition at Galerie de l’UQÀM Master’s graduation exhibition. Credit: Galerie de l’UQÀM
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