Mamak Razmgir
"I am here to nurture my creativity in painting, explore new spaces, and revive ancient Iranian elements in order to tell the story of my life through unique artwork. I seek to connect with the world and witness the growth and flourishing of artists in a free environment."
I am an Iranian artist and educator who has lived in the United State for the past three years, pursuing my second MFA degree.
Growing up in the Middle East, I developed a deep passion for art as a means of storytelling, imagination and creativity. Over the years, I have embraced an interdisciplinary approach in my work, blending painting, jewelry design, elements of sculpture and experiment with different materials to explore themes of resilience, identity and freedom.
My personal journey and the stories of those around me have shaped my artistic practice, driving me to create pieces that challenge perceptions and foster empathy.
As an Iranian woman, I have lived through the weight of restrictions, the pain of silencing, and the struggle for freedom. I have witnessed women being forced to conform, their bodies controlled, their voices suppressed—but I have also seen them resist, fight, and reclaim their power. These experiences are at the heart of my art. Every stroke, every form, and every figure I create carries the memory of these struggles and the strength of those who refuse to be erased.
My work is not just about representation—it is about transformation. The women in my paintings are not victims; they are warriors, storytellers, and survivors. They embody the resilience of those who continue to dance even when it is forbidden, who speak even when they are silenced, and who dare to dream beyond the walls built around them.
Through surrealism and symbolism, I merge reality with fantasy, reflecting the complex and layered nature of identity and resistance.
“Memories of Dark Years”(Graphite series)
Memories of Dark Years is a testament to the histories that shape us—the violence of forced migrations, the suffering of child marriage, the oppression justified in the name of religion and power. These are not just stories of the past; they are the lived realities of many Iranian women today. I incorporate Persian motifs, jewelry, masks, and architectural elements as symbols of both cultural heritage and the burdens carried by women. By merging these traditional elements with the fluid, dreamlike forms of my drawings, I explore the tension between what is inherited and what must be broken.
I work spontaneously, allowing forms to emerge organically—just as resistance is often born in unexpected places. A stain of color, a fragment of a memory, a discarded piece of newspaper can become the foundation for a new world, one where women are free. I use pencil on paper as well as the rich, layered hues of Persian miniature painting—ochre, orange, and turquoise— to create surreal atmospheres where reality bends, and possibilities unfold.
Art is my way of bearing witness, of keeping the stories of Iranian women alive, of ensuring thattheir fight is seen, heard, and remembered. This work is not just about past suffering but about the future—about hope, change, and the enduring strength of women who refuse to be forgotten.
"A Routine Lifestyle” (Acrylic series)
This series of works are a journey to display the hidden part of life. The part that is the reality of life. My concentration is on discovering facts of my own life and a personal understanding of the world and people around me. I try to skip stereotypical and apparent meanings and try to go down deeply to discover the new meanings and pure images; the reality which is much more mysterious than the world of imagination and mythology.
The subjects that I work on could be social, political or personal experiences such as using make up as a mask to hide the truth, our daily routine activities of killing animals brutally for having a meal, leather bags and luxurious dresses . Each of my paintings has its own story and I try to focus on some aspects that are not important apparently but when we focus on them deeply, we discover layers of series matters such as disasters against humanities.