Artist Statement  

My artwork is a reflection of local human industry. I am a sculptor and installation artist working almost exclusively with manufactured materials- the leftovers, by-products, and remnants of human activity. As I build with these materials, I deconstruct them or alter them in such a way that they are not immediately recognizable. The reconstruction is in some way determined by what the material is capable of doing, but not meant to do. The new physical form is always more organic, often mimicking the appearance of natural patterns, landscape, or organisms. My material use serves as a commentary on the increasingly modified condition of humans, which pits nature against culture and blurs the line between organic and manufactured.

Bio

Mitra Fabian was born in Iran and raised in Boston.  She has a BA in Art with an Anthropology minor from Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, and an MFA from California State University, Northridge.  Fabian has been showing her work nationally since 1997, and had a solo show at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art in 2007.  Her work has also been featured in shows the Museum of Contemporary Craft, the Laguna Art Museum, and the Armory Center for the Arts.  She has also shown with galleries in Los Angeles and San Francisco and has had residencies at Bemis in Omaha, NE and CAMAC in France.  Her work has been reviewed by several media organizations including Spark, KQED Television, Ruby Mag, Angeleno Magazine, and Artweek. She is a professor at West Valley College teaching sculpture and ceramics.

www.mitrafabian.net ‍

How has your relationship with art changed over time?

I've learned to pace myself. I used to stress out when I wasn't working in the studio or feeling inspired. But I've discovered that I need breaks to recover, especially after working long hours, building up to an exhibition or commission. I've also given myself permission to work on other creative endeavors I love, like functional ceramics and jewelry.  

Where do you find inspiration? What drives your work?

So many places, but primarily the natural world, especially where it intersects with built environments. I feel awe when I see the beauty of plants and animals, and simultaneously anger and despair with human alteration and conquest. This complex collision is a sweet spot for me. This moment drives my work, often manifesting in naturalistic forms with industrial materials.

What is your favorite part of your process?

I've been working with resistors, capacitors, and diodes for a number of years now. I sculpt with them by gluing them into ceramic bases, or draw with them by piercing them through foam core. My favorite part of the process is the moment when I can finally start placing the resistors — with the ceramic sculptures it can literally take months until they are ready. With any of the found/industrial objects I use, there is a moment of giddiness when I realize what I want to do with them AND that it will work.

What is one thing about your art and/or practice that our audience may not know?

Environmentalism and politics have undertones in my work, but may not be obvious visually. I'm also influenced by the crafts of my home country, Iran. The patterns and colors of the rugs, mosaics, and rugs have leeked into my subconscious. Also, I love listening to audio books while I work in the studio — dark mysteries and family disfunction top the list.  

What does your dream piece/project look like?

I've been exploring kinetics, sound, and 3D printing lately. My dream project might be where all of these things coalesce.