Minneapolis Institute of Art Announces Newest Exhibition “Ziba Rajabi: Belly Laugh at a Funeral”

The exhibition explores communal grief and healing through immersive textile installation

Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will present “Ziba Rajabi: Belly Laugh at a Funeral,” a new exhibition organized by the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP), on view July 18 through October 26, 2026, in the U.S. Bank Gallery. Featuring an immersive installation, wall hangings, and Tempera paintings, the exhibition invites visitors into a contemplative, shared space centered on the emotional landscape after grief subsides and the solace of community.

Drawing on historic practices from the Iranian Plateau, Eastern Mithraism, Zoroastrianism, and ancient Mesopotamia, Rajabi’s work explores collective grief and the complex emotions that follow loss—peace, acceptance, renewal, and joy. The installation, Kotal (2026), incorporates textiles, sound, carpet, and cushions, encouraging visitors to gather, rest, and reflect together.

“Minnesotans have collectively experienced significant upheaval, often accompanied by unspoken grief. Rajabi’s installation, Kotal, offers a platform for collective reflection,” said Nicole E. Soukup, MAEP Supervisor. “Her artwork quietly merges historic references with contemporary practice to offer communal reflection, while highlighting how enduring rituals continue to shape how we process loss.”

A nationally recognized Minneapolis-based artist, Rajabi has gained significant attention for her work, including winning the inaugural DAG Prize for Visual Art (2025) and the 2023–24 MCAD–Jerome Foundation Fellowship for Early Career Artists. Her work has been included in a number of national and international exhibitions, such as Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Arkansas; CICA Museum; South Korea; Masur Museum, Louisiana; 21C Museum, Arkansas; Araan Gallery, Iran; and The II Platform, UK. Her practice is focused on painting, drawing, and fabric-based installation.

Through its tactile materials and participatory design, “Belly Laugh at a Funeral” emphasizes the role of community in processing grief.

Exhibition Highlights

  • Large-scale, textile installation, Kotal, inspired by ancient Iranian and Mesopotamian practices
  • Intimate Tempera paintings, Veil of Veronica (after Francisco de Zurbarán) and Flags (Study of flags in Persian Paintings), that explore the historic use of textiles in art
  • Integrated soundscape created by Iranian-born, Minnesota-based Aida Shahghasemi, designed to deepen reflection and emotional resonance
  • Designed cushions and wall hangings that operate as a sentimental refuge for the artist and visitors alike
  • The exhibition will feature a soundtrack by the artist Aida Shahghasemi
  • Ziba designed Aida’s latest book

Exhibition Details

For more information on this and other upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.

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About the Artist

Ziba Rajabi (born Tehran, Iran; lives and works in Minnesota) received her MFA from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and her BFA from the Sooreh University, Tehran. Her practice is focused on painting, drawing, and fabric-based installation. She’s the recipient of the DAG Prize for Visual Artists, Jerome Foundation’s Fellowship for Early Career Artists, and the Artist 360 Grant sponsored by the Mid-America Arts Alliance. Her work has been included in a number of national and international exhibitions, including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Arkansas; CICA Museum, South Korea; 21C Museum, Arkansas; Araan Gallery, Iran; and The II Platform, UK. She has been in residence at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, the Vermont Studio Center, and Terrain Residency.

About the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration.  Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.

General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.

For more information, call 1-612-870-3000 or visit artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.