Podcast Summary: New Books Network with Donna Stein — "The Empress and I: How an Ancient Empire Collected, Rejected and Rediscovered Modern Art" (Skira, 2020)
Host: Kirsten Ellsworth | Guest: Donna Stein | Date: January 26, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode of the New Books Network features curator, essayist, and retired museum deputy director Donna Stein, discussing her memoir The Empress and I: How an Ancient Empire Collected, Rejected and Rediscovered Modern Art. The conversation explores Stein’s pivotal role from 1974–1977 in building the prestigious Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art’s collection under the patronage of Empress Farah Pahlavi, and reflects on the challenges, cultural exchange, and enduring legacy of that era.
Main Discussion Points & Insights
1. How Stein Became Involved in Tehran’s Art Scene
- Stein had previously worked at New York’s MoMA and received an NEA grant, leading to extensive travel, including Iran in 1973.
- She maintained close Iranian friendships and, in late 1974, was invited to interview for a role advising the Queen’s office on Western art acquisitions.
- Initially focused on works on paper, Stein quickly expanded her role to include paintings and sculpture, beginning the transformation of the museum’s mandate.
- Notable Quote:
“I was known because of my work at the Museum of Modern Art as a graphic art specialist, prints and illustrated books. But I wanted to enlarge my portfolio... I proposed that I would become an advisor on Western acquisitions of works on paper…” — Donna Stein [03:40]
2. Assembling a World-Class Collection
- Stein worked from New York, collaborating closely with dealers, auction houses, and artists’ estates, acquiring major works across media.
- Noteworthy acquisitions included masterpieces by Giacometti, Kandinsky, Braque, Soto, Hartung, Picasso, and significant modern American artists like Rauschenberg and Johns.
- Quote on how purchases happened:
“In 10 days we bought, out of the works that I had set aside, 125 works in all media... It was an amazing 10 days.” — Donna Stein [09:44]
3. Evolving Role and Influence
- Stein’s position evolved from specialist to principal advisor, often requiring her to educate Iranian colleagues on modern art history and collection value.
- She curated and organized educational exhibits blending international and Iranian contemporary art, such as the first contemporary graphics show in Iran and a major group show at the Basel Art Fair (1976).
- Notable Quote:
"Every session when we met... we would talk about the value of the work in terms of its rarity, its place in the history of art and its technique. And through the course of two years, he learned quite a lot and thanked me in the end for all of that." — Donna Stein [13:30]
4. Life as an American Woman in 1970s Tehran
- Stein described Tehran as vibrant and cosmopolitan, with a strong international presence and dynamic cultural life.
- She shared practical stories about language learning, local customs, daily life, and the advantages and challenges of living alone as a woman in that context.
- Notable Quote:
“It was an amazing place at that time… The advantage of where I lived... air conditioned... properly heated... a great view of the Albers Mountains... And the building had a 24 hour concierge and... a market you could get everything...” — Donna Stein [19:19]
- Efforts to learn Farsi improved her integration and gave her unique insight into local perceptions.
5. The Museum, The Queen, and the Revolution
- Stein clarified she worked from an office, not the museum itself (which opened in 1977), and she was instrumental in building Iran’s first National Library of Art History.
- After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, most of the collection was hidden from view for decades; limited re-exhibitions have since occurred.
- Quote on the fate of the collection:
“For most of the last 40 years, most of the collection has been in storage. It's come out for an exhibition in 1999… and then again in 2005...” — Donna Stein [25:04]
6. Reasons for Leaving Tehran
- Stein’s two-year tenure ended due to a combination of professional frustrations, changes in museum leadership, and political uncertainty.
- Administrative instability complicated her departure and delayed the completion of her contract.
- Quote on the challenges of transition:
“It was the hardest job I’ve ever had... I was just told I had to be patient. Well, I had to be patient until May… I was kind of being thrown back and forth between four different people...” — Donna Stein [28:30]
7. Enduring Connection to Empress Farah Pahlavi
- Stein described her ongoing friendship with the former Empress, detailing their first official meeting (1976 Shiraz Arts Festival), later reconnections in exile, and the Empress’s encouragement to tell this story.
- Notable Quote:
“She told me that she'd always thought of me as an old woman with glasses, that she didn't realize I was so young, attractive, and Chicago. So it was kind of very funny.” — Donna Stein [36:27]
- Empress Farah’s vision and commitment to art education, social welfare, and cultural modernization were highlighted as truly ahead of their time.
8. Legacy and Hopes for the Collection
- Stein is pleased the museum has undergone major renovation, continues to catalog and lend works, and has preserved archival materials she created.
- She stressed the aesthetic and cultural—not just financial—value of the collection and its importance as a bridge between East and West.
- Quote on the future:
“They realize how important it is in terms of its value and interest. And what I tried to do is not just talk about the money value... but actually the aesthetic value and the importance of what the Queen actually did…” — Donna Stein [39:35]
- She described her delight at learning from museum staff (via Instagram) that her original acquisition files are part of the official archive, underscoring the enduring nature of her work.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- [03:40] Donna Stein: “I proposed that I would become an advisor on Western acquisitions of works on paper…”
- [09:44] Donna Stein: “In 10 days we bought, out of the works that I had set aside, 125 works in all media...”
- [13:30] Donna Stein: “Every session when we met... we would talk about the value of the work in terms of its rarity, its place in the history of art and its technique.”
- [19:19] Donna Stein: “It was an amazing place at that time…”
- [25:04] Donna Stein: “For most of the last 40 years, most of the collection has been in storage.”
- [28:30] Donna Stein: “It was the hardest job I’ve ever had... I was just told I had to be patient. Well, I had to be patient until May…”
- [36:27] Donna Stein (on her first meeting with the Queen): “She told me that she'd always thought of me as an old woman with glasses, that she didn't realize I was so young, attractive, and Chicago.”
- [39:35] Donna Stein: “They realize how important it is in terms of its value and interest. And what I tried to do is not just talk about the money value... but actually the aesthetic value and the importance of what the Queen actually did…”
Important Timestamps
- [02:15]–[10:45] — Stein's background, first trips to Tehran, and the acquisition process
- [12:41]–[18:45] — Evolving curatorial role, internal education, major exhibitions
- [19:19]–[23:14] — Daily life as an American woman in Tehran
- [25:01]–[27:17] — What happened to the museum and collection post-revolution
- [27:39]–[31:51] — Decision and process of leaving Tehran
- [32:36]–[39:35] — Relationship with Empress Farah, her vision, and encouragement to write the memoir
- [39:35]–[43:33] — Reflections on the legacy of the collection and hopes for its future
Tone and Takeaways
The conversation is reflective, candid, and rich with detail—balancing scholarly insight, personal anecdote, and historical context. Stein’s voice is passionate yet pragmatic, and the host encourages depth and honesty.
Listeners gain an inside perspective on art acquisition during a crucial political era, the complexities of being a cultural broker, the enduring legacy of Empress Farah’s patronage, and the surprising afterlife of a world-class collection.
Recommended for:
Anyone interested in art history, modern Iran, museum studies, cultural diplomacy, and women in the arts.
Book Details:
The Empress and I: How an Ancient Empire Collected, Rejected and Rediscovered Modern Art
By Donna Stein
Published by Skira, 2020