ArtAmerica.com presents

Mahsa Shoeleh A Visual Storyteller

Blessed with a rich cultural heritage and infusing the legacy of Ancient Persian artistic lore with a modern style, Mahsa Shoeleh expresses her inner reflections and lamentations on human existence through the delicate interplay of visual harmonies and the flow of dazzling colors. A tapestry of brilliant hues, textured richly on her canvas, translate the artist's emotions into unique images of people, animals, and flora. Her works, especially her distinctive and unique stylization of the eyes, seek to convey the dualism of our existence - a constant struggle for attainment in its broadest sense. "Human eyes are the gateway into inner truths… they have many stories to tell...it is virtually impossible to hide what the eyes reveal." Perhaps as a reaction to the ongoing social and political turmoil in her native Iran since the 1979 Revolution, Mahsa, almost subconsciously, portrays a relentless longing for love and understanding and protests the unfulfilled ideals and desires in a subtle way without any deliberate attempt to make a political statement. Her painting tells a story that is not bound by geography or limited to an individual's plight. Each piece speaks in a universal language and comments on the human condition at large. A glimpse into the eyes of her subjects, whether human or not, surrounded by the purposeful choice of colors, communicates an ocean of thoughts and feelings in a captivating fashion. Concurrently, though, despite the nominally pessimistic façade, one can sense the embedded hope for a brighter future.

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Portfolio

		Downtown Oil on Wood 45" x 37" priced at: $3,400 for sale
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Dichotomy is a common theme in Mahsa's paintings. "Duality is a hallmark of our being. It is the essence that evades cultures and belief systems. It is this polarity that drives the 'current' we call 'life', and it culminates into a sense of purpose and the 'zest for living'. Above all, it demonstrates that in spite of the multitude of religions and ethnic affinities, we are all driven by the same dualistic life-force." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Savannah Oil on Canvas 48" x 24" priced at: $2,350 for sale
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mahsa's style has been a topic of debate among Iranian and international critics, for it does not fall into any of the classically defined genres. However, to many, that seems to be an attractive aspect of her art. One of the visitors present at her Spring 2001 exhibition in Tehran commented:"Mahsa Shoeleh stands out among young artists of her generation in that her free style defies any traditional genre…it is refreshing and unpretentious…" Dieter Bornhorst (Germany). ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
		Laylo Oil on Canvas 48" x 24" priced at: $2,250 for sale
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The artist herself also rejects the notion of being 'classified' into any of the presently established "-isms" and believes that any attempt to 'label' her art is simply futile. She feels that it is a 'limiting idea', which fails to adequately describe her work. She has held numerous critically acclaimed exhibitions in her native country since 1994, and the universality of the subject matter has created a sizable number of fans around the world. Her paintings can currently be found in private collections in America, Australia, Austria, Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Poland, and Switzerland. She moved to the United States in May of 2003 and currently works and lives in Southern California, where she continues to create and exhibit her artwork. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Self Oil on Canvas 48" x 36" In a private collection
	Click here for an enlarged detail

Contact ~ To purchase paintings contact ~ Mahsa at: MahsaShoeleh@hotmail.com You may view more of Mahsa's work at her studio website. www.MahsaShoeleh.com © 2004 ArtAmerica.com - All Rights Reserved. All images remain the property of the artist and may not be used without her written permission.