Artist Biography
Pouya Afshar is an alumnus of the California Institute of Arts Character Animation department and is a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles Graduate Department of Film and Television focusing on Animation and Digital Media. He has exhibited his work as a visual artist throughout the United States and the Middle East, including Harold M. Williams Auditorium at the Getty Center, Bovard Auditorium at the University of Southern California, Royce Hall at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Santa Monica Art Studios, 18th street Art Center, Craft Contemporary Museum, and numerous galleries and art fairs around the world. Pouya has presented his research at Stanford University, Harvard University, University of Southern California, The School of Museum of Fine Arts Boston, University of California Los Angeles, and Residency Unlimited NY. He is the creator, character designer, and producer of the animated series ‘Rostam in Wonderland’ the co-creator of ‘1PA2PA’ comics, and the creator of ‘TEHRAN’ graphic novel. He is currently an associate professor of art at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
Artist CV
Select Artworks
Pouya Afshar
The Charm of the Unfamiliar
“The Charm of the Unfamiliar” is a fictional improvisation on the story of the displaced. In this series, Pouya Afshar tells the story of displacement, migration and resiliency. The displaced in this narrative are hybrid personas – human and animal, some real, some mythical – each physically transformed by their experiences of migration. These hybrid beings embody the toll of displacement and the adaptation and strength migration require and reflect the dehumanization and exoticizing of immigrants and refugees that continues to this day in the United States. Through this work, Afshar aims to open up dialogue about global refugee crises, U.S. immigration policy, and the realities immigrants face when they do make it to the land of the so-called “American Dream.” Within this series, Afshar created the Ellis Portraits- oil paintings of characters based on actual Ellis Island immigrants as they arrived in Ellis Island.
Mourn Baby Mourn
“Mourn Baby Mourn” is a poignant exploration of mourning rituals and cathartic expressions through art, delving into the historical elements that give rise to these traditions in theatre. This multimedia project serves as a profound study of Persian and Shiite mourning rituals, specifically focusing on “Ta’zie.” The series encompasses a virtual theatre installation alongside drawings, paintings, and sculptures, creating a comprehensive examination of mourning on both personal and historical levels. Rooted in childhood memories and dreams, as well as the impact of the death of an advisor, the work intricately explores the theatrical aspects of “Ta’zie.” The series unfolds in various formats, initially manifesting as paintings before evolving into animation and interactive video projections. It serves as an ongoing project, seeking to foster a dialogue on the process of recovering from the death of a loved one and how a community can provide a platform for such healing. The collection of works in the gallery is a powerful testimony to the artist’s catharsis, reflecting on his personal journey through paintings, drawings, video animations, and mixed media pieces. Described as improvisations, these pieces embody cathartic exercises, with recurring symbols holding significant narrative power. Observing these artworks with an understanding of the artist’s use of catharsis adds depth to the emotional resonance and narrative embedded in each creation.
Out Of Character
Artists are the ones recording the history. In storytelling, it is imperative to understand a character’s personality and behavioral tendencies in order to capture an appealing characterization of that persona within the narrative structure. One has to live, breathe, and feel the surroundings alongside the characters he/she creates. For me, within this context, I intend to restructure real personalities visually and create a new persona. In a way, I am distorting history by projecting these characters through a humorous lens. I am implementing fictional characterizations of these individuals within the audience’s mind regardless of the reality. My intention is to build these characters from the inside out, investing them with a past and a persona only hinted at in the history.
Select Exhibitions
Pouya Afshar
ADVOCARTSY is a contemporary art platform specializing in Iranian contemporary art.
ADVOCARTSY West Hollywood
434 N. La Cienega Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA
90048
