The Massillon Museum will exhibit Bingo, I’m the King, Now! - ink drawings by Elena Masrour, from November 30, 2023 through January 14, 2024, in Studio M. A free public reception for the artist will be held on Thursday, November 30, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., concurrent with the exhibition opening of the Stark County Artists Exhibition in the Aultman Health Foundation Gallery.
 
A MassMusings podcast with the artist will be posted at 12:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 19, on the Museum website and Spotify.
 
Elena Masrour, an Iranian artist now based in Birmingham, Alabama, works as a visiting assistant professor at Birmingham Southern College. She received a master of fine arts in painting from Kansas State University in 2022 and a bachelor of fine arts in fabric and textile design from the Tehran University of Art in 2013.
 
Drawing inspiration from her homeland, Masrour’s artistic vision centers on the profound impact of religious propaganda over the past four decades, particularly after the Islamic Revolution. Through her art, she sheds light on the social transformations that have ensued, with a specific focus on the experiences of modern Iranian women.
 
Masrour’s paintings and prints have been shown in Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Iran, and France. Her solo show, We’re Not in Tehran Anymore, was shown at Lawrence Art Center in Kansas in the summer of 2022. She recently had solo exhibitions at Russ & Holt Gallery at Baker University in Kansas and Waterloo Arts in Cleveland.
 
Publications including SuboArt magazine, ArtsinSquare, Artist Talk, and The Hand have included Masrour’s artwork, solidifying her place among contemporary art's emerging talents.
 
When visiting the Studio M exhibition, guests can also view the Stark County Artists Exhibition, Artwork by Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Massillon, A Way to Win: Paul Brown’s Innovations (through January 7), the Paul Brown/Massillon Tigers Football History Timeline, Precarious Legacies: Exposures of a Fleeting Landscape, the Immel Circus, the Local History Gallery, Innovators of Massillon, Ethiopian Expedition of 1903, First Peoples of North America, and the Albert E. Hise Fine and Decorative Arts Gallery.
 
Massillon Museum members have the opportunity to apply to exhibit their artwork in the Studio M Gallery on the second floor of the Museum. New members are welcome at any time. Exhibitions are celebrated by an artist’s reception, and the artists are featured guests on the Museum's podcast, MassMusings.
 
The Massillon Museum appreciates operating support from the Ohio Arts Council, ArtsinStark, and the citizens of Massillon, as well as marketing support from Visit Canton. This exhibition is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
 
Exhibitions can be seen during regular MassMu hours, Tuesday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. MassMu will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.

Holiday trees decorated by local businesses and organizations adorn the lobby. OHregionalities, the Museum’s unique shop, is open during regular Museum hours. Greatness Cafe in the lobby is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 
MassMu is located at 121 Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon. A visit is always free and everyone is welcome. Free parking is available on adjacent streets and in nearby city lots. For more information, call 330-833-4061 or visit www.massillonmuseum.org.