Shirin Neshat’s Land of Dreams Returns to the Parrish Art Museum for an Afternoon of Film and Conversation

Water Mill, NY — August 10, 2025 — On a late-summer afternoon in the Hamptons, the Parrish Art Museum will once again open its doors to one of contemporary art’s most celebrated voices. Shirin Neshat—internationally recognized for her hauntingly poetic explorations of identity, exile, and cultural memory—returns on Sunday, August 10, for a special screening of her 2021 feature film Land of Dreams (114 minutes), followed by an in-depth conversation with Corinne Erni, The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Chief Curator of Art and Education and Deputy Director of Curatorial Affairs.

The event, running from 3:30 to 6 PM in the Museum’s Lichtenstein Theater, is presented in conjunction with Shirin Neshat: Born of Fire, the artist’s first solo museum exhibition in the New York area in more than two decades, on view through September 1.

She continued, "we’re honored to present this screening in conjunction with her exhibition on view, which offers viewers a timely opportunity to experience the depth of Neshat’s artistic practice—one that continues to challenge, illuminate, and connect across cultures. I encourage everyone to view the film and the incredible body of work on display before Shirin Neshat: Born of Fire closes later this summer.”

Co-directed by Neshat and her longtime collaborator Shoja Azari, Land of Dreams blends surrealism, political satire, and deeply personal storytelling. Set in a dystopian near-future America, the film follows Simin, an Iranian immigrant working for the U.S. Census Bureau’s secret program to collect citizens’ dreams. By day, she dutifully records these private visions; by night, she reenacts them in Farsi on social media for a growing Iranian audience.

Starring Sheila Vand alongside Matt Dillon, William Moseley, Isabella Rossellini, and Anna Gunn, the narrative unfolds as Simin encounters a romantic poet and a gruff cowboy whose contrasting energies illuminate the absurdity and poignancy of her mission.

The screening serves as a living complement to Born of Fire, curated by Erni with Associate Curator Scout Hutchinson. The exhibition traces the evolution of Neshat’s artistic voice, from her iconic Women of Allah photo series (1993–1997) to her photographic and film project Land of Dreams (2019), the politically charged Book of Kings (2012), and her most recent video works, including The Fury (2022–2023).

Visitors will also discover a rare glimpse into Neshat’s private art collection, which includes pieces by Marina Abramović, Robert Longo, and emerging artists from the Middle East—underscoring her role not only as a creator but also as a collector and cultural advocate.

With seating limited and tickets complimentary for Museum Members and Resident Benefits Passholders, the August 10 gathering is designed to be as intimate as it is illuminating. For the general public, tickets are $30 ($24 for seniors), with advance registration recommended.

The Parrish’s commitment to presenting Land of Dreams in the context of Born of Fire reflects a holistic approach to programming—one that integrates visual art, cinema, and conversation to offer audiences deeper access to an artist’s creative universe.

This dual experience—walking through the galleries to witness the breadth of Neshat’s photographic and video practice, then sitting down to immerse in the layered allegory of her feature film—provides a rare continuum between static image and moving picture.

Supported by leading art patrons including Veronica Beard, Agnes Gund, and the Robert Lehman Foundation, as well as a broad coalition of individual donors and in-kind partners, the exhibition affirms the Parrish Art Museum’s standing as a cultural anchor on Long Island’s East End.

In hosting Neshat for both a major retrospective and a personal conversation about her cinematic work, the institution reinforces its role as a space where international perspectives meet local audiences in meaningful exchange.

For those in search of an August afternoon steeped in art, storytelling, and cultural inquiry, Land of Dreams at the Parrish promises a rare alignment of vision and voice—one that invites reflection long after the credits roll.

Event Details:

Film & Talk: Land of Dreams
Sunday, August 10, 3:30–6 PM
Lichtenstein Theater, Parrish Art Museum
Tickets and information: parrishart.org