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.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
28.50x21"
The original artwork size is 24 x 15.5 inches.
Two lonely souls find each other in this unusual tale of friendship and belonging from award-winning comic writer Cary Fagan. In her North American debut, illustrator Banafsheh Erfanian brings ornate artistry to the cage and birds that inhabit this surprisingly human story. A long-empty birdcage takes a chance and leaves behind its attic home to find a bird to keep. Out in the world, the cage encounters many birds and offers shelter to each of them. One by one, they refuse, explaining why they belong elsewhere. The cage feels lonelier than ever – until the cage in search of a bird finds a bird in search of a cage. Based on an aphorism by Franz Kafka, Fagan’s original story will make readers laugh at its absurdity and ponder its meaning long after they finish reading.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
28.50x21"
The original artwork size is 24 x 15.5 inches.
Two lonely souls find each other in this unusual tale of friendship and belonging from award-winning comic writer Cary Fagan. In her North American debut, illustrator Banafsheh Erfanian brings ornate artistry to the cage and birds that inhabit this surprisingly human story. A long-empty birdcage takes a chance and leaves behind its attic home to find a bird to keep. Out in the world, the cage encounters many birds and offers shelter to each of them. One by one, they refuse, explaining why they belong elsewhere. The cage feels lonelier than ever – until the cage in search of a bird finds a bird in search of a cage. Based on an aphorism by Franz Kafka, Fagan’s original story will make readers laugh at its absurdity and ponder its meaning long after they finish reading.
$600.00
Acrylics, oil pastels, and paper collage on illustration board (matted and framed).
18x9"
The original artwork size is 13 x 4 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".
$500.00
Gouache and charcoal on paper (matted and framed).
17x21"
The original artwork is 12 x 16 inches.
This piece is inspired by Federico García Lorca's poem which illustrates the angel of death.
$500.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
16.80x20.70"
The original artwork size is 11.80 x 15.70 inches.
This painting is based on a Zoroastrian book named “Ardavirafnameh”. Ardavirafnameh is about “Ardaviraf” (gifted the holy wisdom); a virtuous man’s travel witnesses of the hereafter world; heaven, inferno, and limbo. This book is written in the Sassanid epoch when there was so much chaos in the Persian society after “Alexander” had attacked Iran. In the introduction, it is mentioned that the purpose of authoring this book is to make people back to their Zoroastrian beliefs.
$500.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
16.80x20.70"
The original artwork size is 11.80 x 15.70 inches.
This painting is based on a Zoroastrian book named “Ardavirafnameh”. Ardavirafnameh is about “Ardaviraf” (gifted the holy wisdom); a virtuous man’s travel witnesses of the hereafter world; heaven, inferno, and limbo. This book is written in the Sassanid epoch when there was so much chaos in the Persian society after “Alexander” had attacked Iran. In the introduction, it is mentioned that the purpose of authoring this book is to make people back to their Zoroastrian beliefs.
$500.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
16.80x20.70"
The original artwork size is 11.80 x 15.70 inches.
This painting is based on a Zoroastrian book named “Ardavirafnameh”. Ardavirafnameh is about “Ardaviraf” (gifted the holy wisdom); a virtuous man’s travel witnesses of the hereafter world; heaven, inferno, and limbo. This book is written in the Sassanid epoch when there was so much chaos in the Persian society after “Alexander” had attacked Iran. In the introduction, it is mentioned that the purpose of authoring this book is to make people back to their Zoroastrian beliefs.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
28.50x21"
The original artwork size is 24 x 15.5 inches.
Two lonely souls find each other in this unusual tale of friendship and belonging from award-winning comic writer Cary Fagan. In her North American debut, illustrator Banafsheh Erfanian brings ornate artistry to the cage and birds that inhabit this surprisingly human story. A long-empty birdcage takes a chance and leaves behind its attic home to find a bird to keep. Out in the world, the cage encounters many birds and offers shelter to each of them. One by one, they refuse, explaining why they belong elsewhere. The cage feels lonelier than ever – until the cage in search of a bird finds a bird in search of a cage. Based on an aphorism by Franz Kafka, Fagan’s original story will make readers laugh at its absurdity and ponder its meaning long after they finish reading.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
28.50x21"
The original artwork size is 24 x 15.5 inches.
Two lonely souls find each other in this unusual tale of friendship and belonging from award-winning comic writer Cary Fagan. In her North American debut, illustrator Banafsheh Erfanian brings ornate artistry to the cage and birds that inhabit this surprisingly human story. A long-empty birdcage takes a chance and leaves behind its attic home to find a bird to keep. Out in the world, the cage encounters many birds and offers shelter to each of them. One by one, they refuse, explaining why they belong elsewhere. The cage feels lonelier than ever – until the cage in search of a bird finds a bird in search of a cage. Based on an aphorism by Franz Kafka, Fagan’s original story will make readers laugh at its absurdity and ponder its meaning long after they finish reading.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
28.50x21"
The original artwork size is 24 x 15.5 inches.
Two lonely souls find each other in this unusual tale of friendship and belonging from award-winning comic writer Cary Fagan. In her North American debut, illustrator Banafsheh Erfanian brings ornate artistry to the cage and birds that inhabit this surprisingly human story. A long-empty birdcage takes a chance and leaves behind its attic home to find a bird to keep. Out in the world, the cage encounters many birds and offers shelter to each of them. One by one, they refuse, explaining why they belong elsewhere. The cage feels lonelier than ever – until the cage in search of a bird finds a bird in search of a cage. Based on an aphorism by Franz Kafka, Fagan’s original story will make readers laugh at its absurdity and ponder its meaning long after they finish reading.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
28.50x21"
The original artwork size is 24 x 15.5 inches.
Two lonely souls find each other in this unusual tale of friendship and belonging from award-winning comic writer Cary Fagan. In her North American debut, illustrator Banafsheh Erfanian brings ornate artistry to the cage and birds that inhabit this surprisingly human story. A long-empty birdcage takes a chance and leaves behind its attic home to find a bird to keep. Out in the world, the cage encounters many birds and offers shelter to each of them. One by one, they refuse, explaining why they belong elsewhere. The cage feels lonelier than ever – until the cage in search of a bird finds a bird in search of a cage. Based on an aphorism by Franz Kafka, Fagan’s original story will make readers laugh at its absurdity and ponder its meaning long after they finish reading.
$700.00
Acrylics and oil pastels on illustration board (matted and framed).
28.50x21"
The original artwork size is 24 x 15.5 inches.
Two lonely souls find each other in this unusual tale of friendship and belonging from award-winning comic writer Cary Fagan. In her North American debut, illustrator Banafsheh Erfanian brings ornate artistry to the cage and birds that inhabit this surprisingly human story. A long-empty birdcage takes a chance and leaves behind its attic home to find a bird to keep. Out in the world, the cage encounters many birds and offers shelter to each of them. One by one, they refuse, explaining why they belong elsewhere. The cage feels lonelier than ever – until the cage in search of a bird finds a bird in search of a cage. Based on an aphorism by Franz Kafka, Fagan’s original story will make readers laugh at its absurdity and ponder its meaning long after they finish reading.