Roya Amirsoleymani: The Curator Championing Marginalized Artists

Roya Amirsoleymani is a name that resonates deeply within the contemporary art world, not for the spectacle of celebrity, but for the quiet, profound impact of her work. She is a curator, writer, creative producer, artist advocate, and consultant whose practice is defined by a deep-seated commitment to equity and justice. Based on the Twana lands of the Olympic Peninsula in rural Washington, Amirsoleymani has dedicated her career to supporting the ideas, labor, and livelihoods of artists who have been historically marginalized by mainstream art worlds and economies.

From her influential tenure at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA) to the launch of her independent residency, Oak Head, her work is a testament to the belief that art has the power to transform and that the artists who create it deserve unwavering support. This biography explores her journey, her curatorial philosophy, and her enduring legacy as a champion of the arts.

Quick Bio Table

Attribute	Details
Full Name	Roya Amirsoleymani
Known For	Curator, Writer, Creative Producer, Artist Advocate
Profession	Independent Curator, Writer, Creative Producer, Consultant
Nationality	American
Birthplace	Not publicly available
Date of Birth	Not publicly available
Age	Not publicly available
Ethnicity	Not publicly available
Height	Not publicly available
Marital Status	Not publicly available
Children	Not publicly available
Education	BA in Contemporary Visual Culture & Gender Studies (Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, California); MA in Arts Management (University of Oregon)
Net Worth	Not publicly available

Who Is Roya Amirsoleymani?

Roya Amirsoleymani is an independent curator, writer, creative producer, artist advocate, and consultant working at the intersection of contemporary performance and visual art. She is a passionate advocate for artists who have been historically excluded from mainstream art worlds and is committed to advancing anti-racism, equity, and justice through her curatorial and producing practices.

From 2012 to 2023, she was a director and curator with the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), where she played a pivotal role in organizing exhibitions, experimental performances, community programs, and the annual Time-Based Art Festival. In 2024, she co-founded the Oak Head Artist Residency, an informal, invitational residency for artists, writers, and musicians of color at her home on the Olympic Peninsula. She is also an emerging writer who has published essays and self-published a chapbook.

Early Life & Childhood

Details about Roya Amirsoleymani’s early life and childhood are not publicly available. She has kept her personal history private, preferring to let her professional work and advocacy speak for itself.

Age & Birthday

Roya Amirsoleymani’s date of birth is not publicly available.

Parents & Family Background

There is no publicly verified information about Roya Amirsoleymani’s parents or family background.

Education

Amirsoleymani pursued her education with a focus on the intersection of art, culture, and social justice. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Visual Culture & Gender Studies from the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies in California. She furthered her studies by obtaining a Master of Arts in Arts Management from the University of Oregon. This strong academic foundation, combining critical theory with practical arts management, prepared her for a career dedicated to supporting artists and reshaping institutional practices.

Career Journey

Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA)

Amirsoleymani’s most prominent professional chapter was her tenure at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art (PICA), a multidisciplinary center for contemporary and experimental art. She joined PICA in 2012 as Director of Public Engagement and later became an Artistic Director alongside Erin Boberg Doughton and Kristan Kennedy.

During her 11-year tenure, she was instrumental in shaping the organization’s curatorial vision. Her work included:

Co-curating the annual Time-Based Art Festival (TBA): A premier event showcasing experimental performance and visual art.
Organizing year-round exhibitions, performances, and socially engaged projects.
Designing and managing artist residency programs, including the Creative Exchange Lab.
Developing the Crucial Bonding program for youth and artist mentors of color.
Overseeing the Precipice Fund, a grantmaking program through the Andy Warhol Foundation.
Serving as PICA’s primary liaison to the Black Art Ecology of Portland project.
Supporting the development of the international Global First Nations Performance Network.

Her curatorial projects included a wide range of performances and exhibitions, such as “Remembering to Remember: Experiments in Sound”; “We Got Each Other’s Back” by Carlos Motta; “No Human Involved: The 5th Annual Sex Workers’ Art Show” with Stroll PDX; and “THROUGH AND THROUGH AND THROUGH: New Work by Gordon Hall”.

Founding Member of Arts Workers for Equity (AWE)

Beyond PICA, Amirsoleymani is a founding member of Arts Workers for Equity (AWE), a collective that seeks to advance racial equity in Portland’s cultural sector. This work underscores her commitment to systemic change within the arts, recognizing that equity must be built into the very structures that support artists.

Teaching and Academic Work

Amirsoleymani is also on faculty in the Art & Social Practice MFA Program at Portland State University. She has taught courses in Critical Art Theory, Art History II, Writing & Research, and Directed Studies, and regularly serves on students’ graduate committees. Her academic work allows her to mentor the next generation of socially engaged artists and arts professionals.

Oak Head Artist Residency

In early 2024, Amirsoleymani and her partners launched the Oak Head Artist Residency, an independent, informal, and invitational residency for artists, writers, and musicians of color at their home on the Olympic Peninsula. The residency provides BIPOC artists with time, space, food, nature, and shared resources, free from the financial and logistical pressures of many traditional programs.

The residency operates on approximately 14 acres of forested land, which the team stewards and rents from family. They are actively fundraising to offer stipends of $500 to $1,000 to visiting artists, cover meals, and provide transportation. Oak Head represents a deeply personal and practical manifestation of Amirsoleymani’s values: sharing access to land and resources to uplift artists who are underrepresented in the mainstream art world.

Freelance Curatorial and Writing Practice

Since leaving PICA in 2023, Amirsoleymani has worked as a freelance curator, writer, and creative producer. She has published several essays in various publications and self-published her first chapbook. She is currently working on a long-form, experimental narrative about death and friendship. She continues to produce projects by artists including Ahamefule J. Oluo, San Cha, and Holland Andrews & yuniya edi kwon.

Major Achievements

Artistic Director & Curator of Public Engagement at PICA: Held a leadership role at one of the country’s leading contemporary art organizations.
Co-Curator of the Time-Based Art Festival: Helped shape a premier international festival for experimental performance and visual art.
Co-Founder of Oak Head Artist Residency: Created a vital, independent residency for BIPOC artists on the Olympic Peninsula.
Founding Member of Arts Workers for Equity: Contributed to a collective advancing racial equity in Portland’s cultural sector.
Faculty Member at Portland State University: Mentors the next generation of socially engaged artists in the Art & Social Practice MFA Program.
Grantee of Artist Trust: Recognized with a Grants for Artist Projects (GAP) award in 2024.

Marriage & Relationships

There is no publicly verified information about Roya Amirsoleymani’s marital status or relationships.

Children

There is no publicly verified information about Roya Amirsoleymani having children.

Personal Life

Roya Amirsoleymani lives a life deeply intertwined with her work. She is based on the Twana and Skokomish lands of the Olympic Peninsula in rural Washington, where she co-stewards the Oak Head Artist Residency. She and her partners moved there full-time in October 2023, leaving city life behind to create a space dedicated to supporting artists. Her personal and professional lives are united by a shared commitment to land stewardship, community, and artistic practice.

Height & Physical Appearance

There is no publicly verified information about Roya Amirsoleymani’s height or physical appearance.

Lifestyle

Roya Amirsoleymani’s lifestyle is centered on her work as a curator, writer, and advocate. She lives and works on the Olympic Peninsula, where she balances her freelance projects with the stewardship of the Oak Head Artist Residency. Her life is a testament to her values, demonstrating a commitment to creating supportive environments for artists and building community outside of traditional institutional frameworks.

Net Worth & Income Sources

Roya Amirsoleymani’s net worth is not publicly available. Her income sources include freelance curatorial and producing work, writing, consulting, and her role as a faculty member at Portland State University.

Social Media Presence

Roya Amirsoleymani does not appear to have a high-profile public social media presence. Her work is primarily promoted through institutional channels (like PICA, On the Boards, and Portland State University) and professional networks.

Interesting Facts

She is a founding member of Arts Workers for Equity (AWE) .
She received a BA in Contemporary Visual Culture & Gender Studies.
She received an MA in Arts Management from the University of Oregon.
She has self-published a chapbook.
She co-stewards the Oak Head Artist Residency on 14 acres of forested land.
Her curatorial practice centers the ideas and livelihoods of historically marginalized artists.
She is a faculty member in the Art & Social Practice MFA Program at Portland State University.
The pronunciation of her last name is a-MEER-soli-MARNY.
She has presented at international, national, and local conferences.

Current Life & Recent Updates

As of 2026, Roya Amirsoleymani continues her work as an independent curator, writer, and creative producer. She remains actively involved in the Oak Head Artist Residency, supporting BIPOC artists, and is working on a long-form experimental narrative project. She continues to be a vital voice in conversations about equity, access, and inclusion in the arts.

Public Image & Legacy

Roya Amirsoleymani’s public image is that of a dedicated and thoughtful curator who has tirelessly worked to create space for artists who have been historically excluded from mainstream art worlds. Her legacy is one of systemic change, not just individual achievement. She has helped shape the curatorial direction of a major contemporary art institution, mentored emerging artists and arts professionals, and created independent, artist-centered spaces that operate outside traditional power structures. She is a respected figure in the contemporary art world, known for her integrity, her deep commitment to artists, and her vision for a more just and equitable cultural landscape.

Why People Search for Roya Amirsoleymani

People search for Roya Amirsoleymani for several reasons:

Curiosity about her work at PICA: As a key figure in Portland’s contemporary art scene, she attracts interest from those following the arts.
Interest in the Oak Head Artist Residency: Her independent residency for BIPOC artists has generated significant attention.
Her role in arts equity: As a founding member of AWE and a vocal advocate for marginalized artists, she is a figure in conversations about diversity and inclusion.
Her curatorial and writing practice: People search for her essays, chapbooks, and curatorial projects.

Common Misconceptions

There is a potential for confusion between Roya Amirsoleymani and individuals with similar names, such as the Iranian royal Turan Amirsoleimani or various Iranian actors. It is important to distinguish her as a contemporary American curator, writer, and artist advocate based in the Pacific Northwest.

Privacy & Public Information

Roya Amirsoleymani has maintained a level of privacy regarding her personal life, with most publicly available information focusing on her professional work and advocacy. She has been open about her professional journey and her vision for the arts, but details about her family and personal relationships are not publicly documented.

Final Thoughts

Roya Amirsoleymani is a curator, writer, and advocate whose work is defined by a profound commitment to equity and justice. From her influential role at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art to the creation of the Oak Head Artist Residency, she has consistently centered the needs and voices of artists who have been historically marginalized. Her career is a testament to the power of intentional, community-focused work, and her legacy will be measured not just in the exhibitions she has organized, but in the systems she has helped to reshape and the artists she has empowered.