New Books Network Donna Stein, "The Empress and I: How an Ancient Empire Collected, Rejected and Rediscovered Modern Art" (Skira, 2020)
Jan 26, 2026
Donna Stein, curator and former art advisor to Empress Farah Diba Pahlavi, helped build Tehran’s modern art collection in the 1970s. She recounts travels to Tehran, key acquisitions, and organizing exhibitions. She reflects on working in the queen’s office, daily life as an American in Tehran, and the collection’s fate after 1979.
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How Stein Entered Tehran's Art Scene
- Donna Stein traveled to Tehran in 1973 and later returned to interview for a museum advisory role in 1974.
- She began buying 125 works during a 10-day visit and expanded her role beyond works-on-paper to paintings and sculpture.
Building A Globally Ambitious Collection
- Stein deliberately built a collection from Impressionism through contemporary art to create a global dialogue.
- She prioritized exemplary, historically significant works rather than just decorative pieces.
Teaching Through Curation
- Donna taught her chief how to assess modern art by explaining rarity, technique, and historical place during review sessions.
- She also organized exhibitions including the Negaristan print show and a Basel presentation of 36 Iranian artists.
