Episode 087: Badri Valian بدری ولیان
Kevin Kirkwood sat down with artist Badri Valian in her San Francisco studio in the Design District, where they talked about her upbringing in Iran, the ways those early experiences continue to shape her creative life, and the possibilities she envisions for her future practice.
Badri Valian is a San Francisco–based interdisciplinary and social practice artist whose work investigates the relationship between individuals and the manipulated worlds formed by war, ideology, and displacement. Her perspective is shaped by lived experiences of armed conflict, fragmented identity, and political oppression—threads that weave throughout her thoughtful, deeply human approach to making art.
Badri Valian:
@badrivalian
Produced by Kevin Kirkwood
kevin-kirkwood.com | @kevinwillpaint | @strandpodcast
Listen to The Strand via all major platforms. Including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and Amazon.
This episode was recorded September 23, 2025 in San Francisco, California.