Runa Islam creates film and video installations with overlapping layers of narrative to explore notions of truth and fiction, subjectivity and authorship. Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she now lives in London. Her works have been shown in numerous exhibitions around the world, including MUMOK, Vienna (2008); the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C. (2008); the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (2007); the Biennale Seville (2006); the Venice Biennale (2005); and the Hammer Museum (2005). She was a nominee for the Tate Gallery's 2008 Turner Prize and is the UCLA Art Council Chair for 2008–09.

The UCLA Department of Art's visiting lecture series is made possible through the generous support of the William D. Feldman Family Endowed Art Lecture Fund.