Golnaz Khadivi Zand, who was born in Iran in 1974, has enriched the global art scene with her perspective. Earning a Master’s degree in Architecture from Tehran's Azad University in 2001, she shared her knowledge as a faculty member at the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad until 2007. A pivotal move to Canada in 2011 marked a new chapter in her career, shifting her focus to painting. Golnaz's art poignantly captures the migration journey through a female lens, blending figurative art with rich symbolism. Her compelling works have been showcased across diverse platforms in Canada, Zurich, Barcelona, England, and her back home country, Iran. Golnaz's dedication and vision have earned her a prestigious elected member in SCA, OSA, and CFS in Canada. She channels her creative spirit into her role as a self-employed artist and educator at Violet Art Studio, continuing to inspire and influence the art world.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Immigration is one of the most critical issues in our world today. Golnaz, as a painter and an immigrant to Canada, wanted to portray the struggles and concerns that immigrant women face. She does this in her works by combining the personal with the societal through imagery that recalls surrealism and is painted naturally. Golnaz was educated in the Middle East with the beliefs, values, traditions and culture unique to Iran. Yet, no matter what country one emigrates from, these are like the contents of a suitcase that one carries throughout one's life in a new country. In entering a new land, far from home, she recognized that she was not able to leave these behind, despite the opportunities that immigration gave her