Portraits of Impact

Golsa Eghbali works closely with her professor and mentor, Dr. Ali Asgar Alibhai, assistant professor of art history, as scholars of Muslim cultures and histories. The two met when Eghbali first reached out to Alibhai in 2023 about the idea of leaving her home country of Iran and traveling to Richardson, Texas, to pursue a master’s in art history.

“I chose UTD to study under Dr. Alibhai,” Eghbali said. “I loved the interdisciplinary approach used here since I have a background in architecture, but still love art. Although I applied and was accepted to a few schools in the United States, I chose here because Dr. Alibhai had the same passion for Persian carpets that I do.”

The art, culture and history of her home country have always been interesting to Eghbali. This love started when she was young, regularly visiting nearby sites to stare at the colorful hues and intricate designs that define Persian architecture.

“When I finished high school, I decided to study architecture under the impression that I would focus on its history,” Eghbali said. “However, I quickly discovered the program was more about engineering, not history. So, I decided to change my major. Unfortunately, there aren’t many art history programs in Iran, so I applied here. I’ve had access to so many different opportunities as a result.”

Under the supervision of Alibhai, Eghbali chose to focus her thesis on the history of Persian carpets. With help from the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History (EODIAH), where she worked as a research assistant, she was able to investigate the influence of regional gardens on the design of Persian carpets.

“I looked at how the harsh climate in Iran created a unique design for its gardens,” Eghbali said. “Gardens create a sense of place in the human mind and in the collective memory. Persian carpets oftentimes use garden imagery to bring our outside environment into our homes and interior spaces. My main idea is that Persian carpet gardens are environmental art.”

In summer 2024, Eghbali worked as a design intern at the Crow Museum of Asian Art, where she was given the opportunity to design display cases located within the Brettell Reading Room, a dedicated research and study space in the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum.

“I collaborated with my internship supervisor to select each item in the cases and place them,” she said. “It was my first project in the O’Donnell Athenaeum and one of my first where I could be creative in a museum setting, so it was very meaningful for me.”

In addition to the mentorship and professional opportunities she found in UTD’s art community, Eghbali has received important financial support from the University. She was a recipient of the Jonelle and Bryce Jordan Scholarship in the Arts and the Robert Plant Armstrong Endowed Scholarship Fund during the 2024-25 academic year.

“As an international student, I have faced some difficult financial hardships,” Eghbali said. “These scholarships provide an opportunity for me to stay here and grow in the field I have always dreamt about. They’ve been game changers in my academic life. Without them, I could not stay at UTD or in the United States, so I really appreciate the generosity and kindness of our supporters.”

In 2024, she earned funding from the EODIAH’s research travel fund. She used the money to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York City.

“While at the MET, I got to meet with their carpet collection curator and team,” Eghbali said. “We talked about the design and the conservation process, which helped me learn a lot. I also got to work on a project with a team at the Harvard Art Museum. These unique opportunities were incredible, and I’ll always appreciate the support given to me to be able to go out and do these things.”

She hopes to continue her studies and research on Persian carpet art in the future and pursue a PhD.

---