Farah Rezaei is a Vancouver based Iranian artist born in Tehran, Iran in 1991. She discovered her interest in visual arts at an early age and graduated form a well known Technical-Vocational high school in Tehran with a diploma in graphic design. After immigrating to Canada she continued her studies at Emily Carr University and received her BDes, majoring in Communication Design in 2018. Rezaei’s work has been exhibited at Emily Carr university hall and her first solo exhibition was in November 2022. Since then, her work has been recognized locally and has raised money for nonprofit organizations such as the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC). She has also participated in artists competitions such as the Art Battle in Vancouver.
For Centuries, women have been objectified and misrepresented in cultural and sociopolitical contexts. They have been seen as personal possessions, labeled as unworthy or taboo, and suppressed by oppressive systems that have targeted the core idea of their womanhood.
Farah Rezaei: Women’s Expression is a collection of works that began soon after Rezaei found her voice as an immigrant Iranian female artist. In her paintings, Rezaei tends to defy forces that inherently limit her freedom of expression and seeks to explore the contradictory emotions that resurface as a displaced woman adapting to a new life in Canada.
“As a woman who has experienced misogyny first hand, my intention is to bring the female figure to centre stage, free of judgement or any sociocultural constraints. These figures often represent physically strong women whose spirit and mindset are free to envision and accomplish anything they desire. They are intentionally depicted gazing away from the viewer or with their faces covered to hint at the imposed insecurities women feel in today’s society.
“Through carefully selected tones and vivid colors I want to highlight the emotional multidimensionality and the playfulness of the female spirit which can not be confined. In my work, I champion women’s confidence, power, and resiliency at any stage of their womanhood, and advocate for a society that is free of judgement. A place where freedom of expression and equality is shared by all.”