Bio

Sanaz Feizi (Roghayyeh Feizi Khankandi) is an interdisciplinary artist with a focus on Design who earned her MA and BA in Visual Communication in Tehran, Iran; she also holds her AA in Visual Arts. Currently, she is an MFA student in Design at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts.

She had been working as an art teacher for years and she also has experience in the varied areas of Art and Design. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

She is currently a Part-time Lecturer at Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Statement

As an artist, human being issues have always been important to me, through my life experiences, I have come to the realization that I cannot be content just with creating forms. Hence, I have always striven to incorporate concepts and meaning into my artworks. I endeavor to express diverse socio-political and cultural matters and to convey an important concept to the audiences to make them think and step forward to create a world full of peace and tranquility. In fact, I am a content-oriented and interdisciplinary artist with a focus on Design, and women's issues, freedom of expression, child marriage, and world peace are the basis of my artworks.

https://sanazfeizi.wixsite.com/myportfolio

When was the first time you felt like you were an artist?

I can say that my mother has always played a significant role in my life and my artistic path. She has a great interest in color, innovative and organic forms and by putting these together she was able to make fantastic art pieces. She used to do handicrafts and make very special dolls that were full of colors and textures; inspired by my mother, and by growing up in a family where art is an indispensable part of their lives, I made up my mind to be an artist. I had been making art since I was a small child, but I didn’t yet think of myself as a real artist until the day I participated in a drawing and painting class that was held by one of the prominent Iranian artists. At that time, I was a graphic design student at university; however, it was in that class that I felt I am an artist.  

What would you say is the underlying thread that connects your work?

I am a content-oriented and interdisciplinary artist with a focus on design and I place a high value on solving design problems that are for the good of mankind. I have always striven to incorporate concepts and meaning into my artworks to express diverse socio-political and cultural matters. I am dealing with women's issues, freedom of expression, child marriage, and world peace; however, women's issues are my most important concern these days. I endeavor to be sensitive to the problems and issues of society and use my work to find ways to express them and step forward to create a better world.  

What is the most satisfying part of your practice?

I would like to use my design works to put women's issues in the spotlight. I think talking more and more about these issues through art and design not only can draw the attention of society to these issues, but also it may help women to look at their problems from a different angle and also promote solidarity between them (regardless of their race, color, or sexuality) to unite to fight for their rights. Besides, I want to expand individuals' horizons when it comes to women's issues and the ways that they can help women break free from violence and discrimination.  

Hence, the significant and satisfying part of my work is to try to raise awareness and help women to know more about their rights, and the ways that they can get help from institutions/associations, and also create a community that can be considered bedrock to achieve their human rights and live in peace and freedom.  

Tell us about a turning point in your artistic journey and/or career.

I would like to talk about the turning point that is a new experience as well. Indeed, I can consider immigrating to the USA as a crucial turning point in my trajectory. Being in this country, and studying in a university with professors and classmates with very different backgrounds and perspectives than mine, made my worldview and outlook on issues wider, more profound, and holistic.  

If you could show your work anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

In my home country, Iran; because when I was there, I've never been able to put my work on display in a way that can openly represent my thoughts and point of view.