“Silence is full of unspoken words.”

سکوت سرشار از نا گفته هاست

Having immigrated from Iran to the United States, I have faced unique challenges in shaping my identity and artistic vision. My work integrates new cultural influences while staying deeply connected to my Iranian heritage. Persian feminism, humanism, and financial hardship are central themes in my paintings, with each brushstroke and impression reflecting my background and lived experience. I work with various materials, including clay, paint, and wood, incorporating colors and textures drawn from my surroundings to evoke my concerns both aesthetically and psychologically. My paintings uncover history’s hidden narratives through portraits of old doorknobs I have seen in Iran, creating a bridge between past and present through both approaches. While my art references Iran’s cultural heritage, it also critiques gender, inequality, and the silence surrounding the unspoken stories of Iranian women, a narrative that resonates with many women worldwide.

-Maryam Rohani Vakili