Hi! This is me, Sholeh Rahmani.
I was born and raised in a city called Sanandaj, in Kurdistan province in the west of Iran. The city is surrounded by high mountains and has colorful seasons. Playing with colors was a significant part of my childhood. One of my hobbies as a child was to go to the mountains, and try to capture the beauty through colors and painting. This period of my life continues to have a profound impact on my work as an artist. I studied graphic arts, became a graphic designer and teacher, and held several group and solo exhibitions of my work in Iran and Iraq over the years.
In 2014, I entered a new stage in my life through migrating to Germany. Immigration and starting over had its difficulties and new challenges. It also came with growth and broadened horizons through new cultures, opportunities, and connections. It helped me to expand my world, and make it more colourful. I had the opportunity to do my masters in Intermediate Design in HSA (bauhaus) University. In 2018, I opened my Etsy shop and started sharing my work with a broader audience.
Growing up with nature and painting made art one of the essential ways of expression for me. It gives my life purpose, depth, and is a way for me to invite more daily peace and balance. My portraits are the expressions of the deepest places in my being and heart. Using my hands for creation is a form of magic for me. It’s my voice being heard for those hearts that it touches, creating fulfillment, joy, and more inspirations. I need art as much as my audience needs it, and that is how I was inspired to combine mirrors with my paintings, bringing my audience into my fantasy world and letting them feel it deeply in their daily lives.
Nature, animals, humans, and the relationship between them are the main source of inspiration in my work. In most of my paintings, I focus on sensitivity, power, and the mysterious nature of feminine. Perhaps because where I was raised, being whole a woman comes with lots of challenges. I strive to bring a sensitive and yet powerful expression through my feminine view of the world. I hope you enjoy them, as much as I do!