Maryam Karimi

Maryam Karimi holds a Doctorate in Philosophy and a practice-based Ph.D. in Visual Arts from York University, a Master’s degree in Architecture (M.Arch) and a Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Science (B.Arch. Sci) from the University of Waterloo. Her interdisciplinary research examines the intersections of architecture, technology and social justice.

Her Ph.D. dissertation explored the potential of framing theories of consciousness in relation to evolving technologies of governance and regulation, bridging philosophical inquiry with practice-based explorations in the visual arts and architecture. Her creative practice spans architectural design, sculpture, object creation and public installations, frequently addressing themes of memory, protest and participatory design in politically charged and socially resistant contexts.

Currently, Maryam is Special Faculty at Carnegie Mellon Architecture, where she teaches courses on design ethics, climate adaptation and the intersection of architecture, equity and sustainability. Her ongoing research addresses critical global issues, including climate justice, the ethics of AI and smart cities, the spatial politics of public space and protest, memory and collective commemoration, and decolonization within the built environment.

Maryam is also the co-founder of The Fly-Bottle, a not-for-profit organization that fosters interdisciplinary, communal inquiries among scholars and practitioners in the humanities, arts and social sciences. Inspired by Wittgenstein's metaphor of breaking free from the "fly-bottle" of limited paradigms, the organization serves as a platform for collaborative research, dialogue and critical reflection on contemporary societal challenges, encouraging innovative approaches to rethinking structures of power, culture and design.