Gazelle Dasti is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist building monumental interactive sculptures at the intersection of mythology, technology, and collective human connection. Drawing on Iranian cultural heritage and contemporary digital technology, her work transforms ancient symbolism into participatory public experiences. Born and raised in Tehran, Iran, Gazelle came to the United States in 2022 to attend Bowling Green State University in Ohio. With a BS in Electronic Engineering, an MSc in Technology Management, and an MFA in Computer Arts, Gazelle employs artistic vision and technical precision. Gazelle’s latest work, ZARVAN, is a 23-foot Burning Man 2026 Honoraria installation inspired by the ancient Persian deity of infinite time. The 23-foot interactive sculpture combines Persian rug geometry, stained-glass Persian window architecture, interactive light environments, and engineered structural design to create a living participatory experience. Visitors can see through ZARVAN’s eyes via internal periscopes, speak through the sculpture’s ears using acoustic tubes, and activate its illuminated crown through collective human presence.

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Previous large-scale works include: NewClear Neural, an 18-foot interactive sculpture featured at Burning Man 2025, which will be placed in San Francisco in October, 2026 as part of the Big Art Loop project. NeuroLumina in the Dust, a 25-foot projection-mapped audio-reactive installation that premiered at Burning Man 2024. Gray Matter, an audio-reactive volumetric sculpture integrating GPU particle systems and real-time visual mapping; a metaphor for the industrial and the intellectual. Unlike purely spectacle-driven installations, Gazelle’s projects are grounded in cultural narrative and philosophical inquiry. They ask what we can learn from history and mythology while exploring how cutting-edge technology can deepen emotional and human connection rather than replace it. As a female Iranian artist working at a monumental scale, Gazelle brings a distinctive and timely perspective to contemporary culture. Her work aims to expand public understanding of Iranian identity beyond geopolitics by sharing the beauty, symbolism, philosophy, and imagination embedded within one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. She is also the first Iranian woman to receive a Burning Man Honoraria grant and create a monumental steel installation of this scale, bringing Persian mythology and culture into the global public art landscape.

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