ARTIST'S STATEMENT

"My paintings are inspired by my perception of everyday life, recent and childhood memories, distant lands and world history. I first divide these pieces, then reunite them as layers - entwined memories, sensations and emotions. I want to immerse viewers. Allow them feel what I felt and be inspired by the experience.

I select images that are archetypes of daily existence, inherited patterns of thought or entirely symbolic. They are derived from my collective experiences and present in my unconscious, like snapshots from a vacation and other such transient visual experiences. These images are created using layers of acrylic, ink and oil glazes, often combined with collage, allowing me to integrate my most preferred media."

PROFILE

Soudabeh's passion for art began early, and by the time she was 14, she was painting with Taha Behbahani, a world-renowned Iranian artist. In 1994, she earned her bachelors degree from the School of Arts & Architecture from Azad University and became the youngest student in Tehran University's masters program. By the time she earned her degree there in 1998, Soudabeh was already teaching a class of 45 aspiring artists, which she continued pursuing until she moved to San Diego, California in 2000.

With her first gallery show creating a traffic jam at the age of just 22, Soudabeh's artwork has touched the lives of art aficionados around the world. Soudabeh has had several one-person shows in Swedan and Tehran. She has also exhibited in several group shows in Poland, Turkey, Belgium, China, Italy, as well as in Iran and California.

Her work has been included in corporate collections, from Sweden to Italy, Poland and even her alma mater in Tehran. Collectors in Hong Kong, San Francisco and New York have also acquired her artwork. Her work has been published in New York, California, Belgium, and Iran. Recent shows include the House of Charm at the San Diego Museum of Living Artists and an exhibit for the Oceanside Museum of Art where she won first place in the People's Choice Award category.