Banafsheh Erfanian
Banafsheh Erfanian is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist. She wears different hats
as an illustrator, painter, arts educator, and mentor. She has illustrated many books and
magazines for children and young adults and her work has been short-listed in several
illustration competitions and exhibited in numerous juried exhibitions such as in Iran,
Italy, US, Canada, Russia, China, Japan, and Serbia. She has had one illustration and
two painting solo exhibits in Toronto. She has won awards such as the RBC Arts
Access Awards, Canada, 2020, 2019, and 2017, The Award of Excellence of Golden
Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition, China, 2016 and the Encouragement Prize of
the 15th Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustration, Japan, 2004. Banafsheh has
participated in jury panels such as the Toronto Art Council Newcomer & Refugees grant,
Scholastic arts & writing awards, New York, 2022, "Newstar Cup" Canada’s
International Children and Youth Creative Arts Exhibition, 2018 & 2019 and Tirgan
Painting Contest for Children, 2019.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I tell my stories through art using imagination as a tool of expression. I am inspired by narratives that convey mythical, poetical, and philosophical themes. In my multidisciplinary practice, I employ magical realism and surrealism to create a milieu that is tied to and stems from my cultural background as an Iranian-Canadian artist meaning I am into but not constrained to interpreting my Iranian heritage using satire and surrealism. As an illustrator especially for children, my approach is different. I create a positive, hopeful, and peaceful atmosphere for children in which they can indulge in playfulness and creativity.
Banafsheh Erfanian is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist. She wears different hats
as an illustrator, painter, arts educator, and mentor. She has illustrated many books and
magazines for children and young adults and her work has been short-listed in several
illustration competitions and exhibited in numerous juried exhibitions such as in Iran,
Italy, US, Canada, Russia, China, Japan, and Serbia. She has had one illustration and
two painting solo exhibits in Toronto. She has won awards such as the RBC Arts
Access Awards, Canada, 2020, 2019, and 2017, The Award of Excellence of Golden
Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition, China, 2016 and the Encouragement Prize of
the 15th Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustration, Japan, 2004. Banafsheh has
participated in jury panels such as the Toronto Art Council Newcomer & Refugees grant,
Scholastic arts & writing awards, New York, 2022, "Newstar Cup" Canada’s
International Children and Youth Creative Arts Exhibition, 2018 & 2019 and Tirgan
Painting Contest for Children, 2019.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I tell my stories through art using imagination as a tool of expression. I am inspired by narratives that convey mythical, poetical, and philosophical themes. In my multidisciplinary practice, I employ magical realism and surrealism to create a milieu that is tied to and stems from my cultural background as an Iranian-Canadian artist meaning I am into but not constrained to interpreting my Iranian heritage using satire and surrealism. As an illustrator especially for children, my approach is different. I create a positive, hopeful, and peaceful atmosphere for children in which they can indulge in playfulness and creativity.
$500.00
Paper collage, acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
23x14"
The original artwork size is 18 x 9 inches.
"Tree of Life" in Aryan ethics is a holly tree full of branches which is a metaphor of unity between all God's creatures and specifically in Persian ancient mythology is the symbol of fertility, health, dignity, and growth. There are always 2 angles guarding this holly tree which originally grows in heaven. It also implies unity between every single thing on earth. This as well explains why The Planet Earth is sacred in Persian culture.
$500.00
Paper collage, acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
23x14"
The original artwork size is 18 x 9 inches.
"Tree of Life" in Aryan ethics is a holly tree full of branches which is a metaphor of unity between all God's creatures and specifically in Persian ancient mythology is the symbol of fertility, health, dignity, and growth. There are always 2 angles guarding this holly tree which originally grows in heaven. It also implies unity between every single thing on earth. This as well explains why The Planet Earth is sacred in Persian culture.
$200.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
11x14"
The original artwork size is 6 x 9 inches.
A girl’s father passes away when she was a child. The girl can’t believe her father’s death and always dreams of her home when the father was still alive. The father always appears in the girl’s dreams and talks to her. In the end, he helps her daughter to get back to real life reassuring her of his presence and spiritual support in her life.
$200.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
11x14"
The original artwork size is 6 x 9 inches.
A girl’s father passes away when she was a child. The girl can’t believe her father’s death and always dreams of her home when the father was still alive. The father always appears in the girl’s dreams and talks to her. In the end, he helps her daughter to get back to real life reassuring her of his presence and spiritual support in her life.
$200.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
11x14"
The original artwork size is 6 x 9 inches.
A girl’s father passes away when she was a child. The girl can’t believe her father’s death and always dreams of her home when the father was still alive. The father always appears in the girl’s dreams and talks to her. In the end, he helps her daughter to get back to real life reassuring her of his presence and spiritual support in her life.
$200.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
11x14"
The original artwork size is 6 x 9 inches.
A girl’s father passes away when she was a child. The girl can’t believe her father’s death and always dreams of her home when the father was still alive. The father always appears in the girl’s dreams and talks to her. In the end, he helps her daughter to get back to real life reassuring her of his presence and spiritual support in her life.
$500.00
Prismacolor on paper (matted and framed).
14x11.50"
The original artwork size is 9 x 6.50 inches.
This piece is inspired by the stories and challenges of immigrants and refugees in Canada.
$200.00
Ink and water on paper
15x13"
The original artwork size is 7 x 8 inches.
The Conference of the Birds (1177), is a celebrated literary masterpiece of Persian literature by the poet “Farid ud-Din Attar”, commonly known as Attar of Nishapur.
In the poem, the birds of the world gather to decide who is to be their sovereign, as they have none. The hoopoe, the wisest of them all, suggests that they should find the legendary Simorgh. The hoopoe leads the birds, each of whom represents a human fault that prevents humankind from attaining enlightenment.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
23x14"
The original artwork is 18 x 9 inches.
A girl gets jealous of her newborn sister and starts speaking to God about it. God shows her his beauty embodied in nature and reminds her that her mother loves both children the same.
$400.00
Paper collage, acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
14x14"
The original artwork size is 9 x 9 inches.
Sepandārmazgān is an ancient Iranian festival with Zoroastrian roots dating back to the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire. This festival is widely known as the Persian Day of Love, although it is celebrated in its neighboring Persian-speaking countries as well such as Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This day is dedicated to Spənta Ārmaz who is given the domain of "earth".
$400.00
Paper collage, acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
14x14"
The original artwork size is 9 x 9 inches.
Sepandārmazgān is an ancient Iranian festival with Zoroastrian roots dating back to the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire. This festival is widely known as the Persian Day of Love, although it is celebrated in its neighboring Persian-speaking countries as well such as Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This day is dedicated to Spənta Ārmaz who is given the domain of "earth".
$400.00
Paper collage, acrylics and oil pastels on poster board (matted and framed).
14x14"
The original artwork size is 9 x 9 inches.
Sepandārmazgān is an ancient Iranian festival with Zoroastrian roots dating back to the Achaemenid Empire, the first Persian Empire. This festival is widely known as the Persian Day of Love, although it is celebrated in its neighboring Persian-speaking countries as well such as Afghanistan and Tajikistan. This day is dedicated to Spənta Ārmaz who is given the domain of "earth".