Nina Ghanbarzadeh’s art practice is rooted in the desire to share the culture and history of Iran, where she was born. She often works with geometric patterns, calligraphic phrases written in Farsi, and the color turquoise, inspired by their importance in the history of Iranian art and architecture. Repetitive, meditative processes are central to her process, from drawings composed with lines of text to patterned ceramic and collage pieces that recall mosaic tile. The rhythmic power of Ghanbarzadeh’s work creates a quiet resonance that transcends both pure decoration and literal translation.
“Living between two cultures,” she explains, “I find myself in constant translation. Culture is so much more than language. It is a shared visual sensibility, humor, music, rituals, pastimes, food, spiritual commonalities, shared history and understanding.” By using art to express the beauty and complexity of Persian language and culture, Ghanbarzadeh hopes to counter the pervasive stereotypes about Iran and its people.
