Golnaz Khadivi Zand – Golnaz Khadivi Zand Art

BIO

Golnaz Khadivi Zand is an artist originally from Iran, now based in Toronto, Canada. She has a master’s degree in Architecture from Azad University of Tehran in 2001and taught at the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, Iran from 2001-2007. After numerous awards in the field of architecture and moving to Canada in 2011, she focused her creative energy on painting. Her work explores the experience of migration from a female perspective through the creation of large scale figurative paintings employing symbolism. Her work has been exhibited in Toronto, Zurich, Luxembourg and Iran. Khadivi’s murals can be found in Henderson.P.S, Thornhill. She is currently self-employed as an artist and runs and instructs at Violet Art Studio.

Artist Statement

Immigration is one of the most important issues in our world today. As a painter and an immigrant to Canada, I want to portray the struggles and concerns that immigrant women face. I do this in my work by combining the personal with the societal through imagery that recalls surrealism and is painted in a naturalistic manner

I was educated in the Middle East with the beliefs, values, traditions and culture unique to Iran. Yet, no matter what country one emigrates from, these are like the contents of a suitcase that one carries throughout their life in a new country. In entering a new land, far from home, I recognize that I have not been able to leave these behind, despite the opportunities that immigration gave me.

The experience of migration led me to question my identity. I use my daughter as the model in these works as a way to consider the differences between my generation and life experience and hers. Iran’s restrictions on women are in great contrast with the freedom my daughter knows in Canada and the future that awaits her is beyond my own experience.

This introspection has led me towards the symbolism of Surrealist and Expressionist artists like Salvador Dali, Andre Breton and Chiharu Shiota, as well as Persian philosophical poets like Rumi and Hafez. In this new series of paintings, I use the image of the frame to portray the idea of limitations, both individual and contextual. Each painting, in this series of six, shows a woman holding a frame. The last planned piece in this cycle will depict the breaking of the frame as a way to symbolize human freedom and flight. In these paintings, I try to reflect on myself in both a personal way and in relation to society. In this series, I draw attention to my homeland, and also to my new home in Canada. For example, I use the Persian carpet as it references Iran and symbolizes heaven on the earth. I feel unable to fully find home in this new place and so this carpet from my homeland is not laid fully flat upon the ground.

Golnaz Khadivi zand

Exhibition :

2021 Drawing Exhibition John B.Aird Gallery Toronto
2020 68th Annual Exhibition Colour and Form Society
2020 Windows Open Markham Group of Artists Markham
2020 Artbox Project Swiss Art Expo Zurich
2020 Luxemburg Art Prize Luxembourg (certificate)
2020 Richmondhill group of Artist Richmond Hill

Education:

2001 Mater degree in Architectural engineer at islamic azad university Central Tehran Branch Faculty of ART & ARCHITECTURE
2013 General Art-English for Academic Purposes Seneca college Toronto

Experience:

2020 Member Markham Artist Group Markham
2020 Member IBEX ART Insiders Facebook
2019 Mural Henderson Public School Toronto
2017 Mural Henderson Public School Toronto
2018 Art Instructor Violet Art Studio Toronto
2001 – 8 Instructor of university Facalty of art and architecture of Islamic Azad university of Mashhad
2000 – 11 Vice President Iranshahr Architectural Consulting Mashhad Iran
2000 – 11 Vice President Iranshahr Architectural Consulting Mashhad, Iran

Certificate:

2020 Academy of Realist Art Certificate Portrait Painting Toronto
2020 Academy of Realist Art Certificate Still Life Painting Toronto
2019 Academy of Realist Art Certificate portrait drawing Toronto
2020 Lucas Keratockwil Landscape Painting Vancouver
2020 Luxemburg Art Prize Luxembourg 2020 Artbox Project Swiss Art Expo Zurich

Skills:

Professional oil painting
professional acrylic painting
Professional Colour pencil
mural painting
Drawing
Mix media
Ceramic