Artist Statement:
My work is about reflections on the natural world, both in the physical and metaphysical sense. I use a combination of oil paint, yarn, and up-cycled fabrics to create vivid textural compositions. I have been greatly influenced by majestic landscapes that I have traversed throughout my life, such as those found within the Appalachian Mountains. My intention is to stimulate the viewer and invite them to explore their own consciousness internally. I want to foster the viewer's awareness of their relationship to the physical world and provoke a deeper quest for an understanding of reality that is unique and separate from traditional theology. Religious beliefs have permeated through society for millennia and in some cases have constrained free thinking, causing catastrophic downstream effects.
My color palette follows a spectrum of green and blue hues, which evolved intuitively as a mirroring of the natural world. My use of vivid green represents a symbolic element of divinity throughout my work. I use a loose application of oil paint to echo the playful and bushy topography of my woven fiber works. I enjoy incorporating old or discarded fabrics into my work, which act as literal threads connecting the past with the present. I intentionally collect scrap materials from my creative process to repurpose in subsequent works of art in an effort to maintain a more sustainable practice. I aim to recontextualize these unwanted materials into something new and purposeful. This practice elicits a sense of optimism and hope within my personal life and fosters my ability to be resourceful. My work offers a form of escapism from the chaos and tragedies entrenched in modern-day life.
Bio:
Shahnaz "Shah" Nia is an Iranian-American multi-disciplinary artist who lives and works in Atlanta, GA. She was born in Toronto, Canada and immigrated to Atlanta when she was seven years old. Nia has spent an extensive amount of time studying the diversity of life and the flow of energy and matter in biological systems. She holds a bachelor of science degree in biology, with a minor in chemistry from Georgia State University. Nia has spent her life exploring the wilderness and integrating her personal experiences and knowledge into her body of work. Nia is mostly a self-taught artist with some higher-level education in visual art. Nia holds a doctorate in dental medicine from Augusta University. Her practice of dentistry informs her precise execution within her artistic process. She is continuously developing her manual dexterity and mastery of technical skill through consistent detail-oriented work. Nia comes from a lineage of artists, as she is the great grand-daughter of master calligraphist Hassan Zarrinkhat, known for his inscription on Iranian banknotes and buildings. Nia has shown work in group exhibitions in galleries in Atlanta, New York, and Virginia, as well as a museum exhibition in Louisiana. Her work is held in private collections in Washington DC, California, and Georgia.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 - Delavar, Free Market Gallery. Atlanta, GA.
2023 - 60th Annual Juried Competition Exhibition, Masur Museum of Art. Monroe, LA
Curated by Jovanna Venegas
2021 - 14th National Annual Juried Exhibition, Prince Street Gallery, New York City, NY
Curated by Sangram Majumdar
2019 - August Open Exhibition, Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA
Curated by Julia Kwon
2009-2011 - Showcased various works in the Raw Space Gallery, The Granite Room Gallery, and the 14th Street Playhouse Theater, all located in Atlanta, GA. Exhibits were organized by the Dodekapus Art Collective
Reviews/Publication:
2019 - “A Conversation with Shahnaz Nia: Best in Show for the August Open Exhibit 2019”, artleague.org
Awards:
2019 - “Best In Show” in group exhibition, Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2007 - Georgia Governor’s Honors Program attendee for the category of visual arts
Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA