Meet Mitra Kamali | Artist, Engineer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mitra Kamali and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mitra, why did you pursue a creative career?
Pursuing my passion, ART, has always been the main reason to have fulfillment and joy in my life..
As a child I used to create small silver sculptures out of silver and gold color candy and gum wraps and made an exhibition at my home and later I used them as special gifts to friends and family.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I enjoy putting my creativity and engineering background into a variety of artistic expressions. My art has mostly been about people and their relationships, weather personal or cultural.

Currently, the figures I paint are faceless without skin pigmentation. This is an effort to free people from prejudice of race or skin color. It is titled “Human Connection” Series.
The idea came to me after surviving a life and death incident.
Going through MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner to evaluate a malignant brain tumor, the colorful images of my brain MRI results were the source of inspiration.
Many of my painting style are ethereal that evokes a sense of dreamlike tranquility and infinite possibilities. I utilize bright neon colors like yellow, red, and blue and then mix paints to throw, splash, mix and melt over a surface, then add phosphorous pigments to emphasize the body outline that glows under ultra violet light.

On that chapter of my life, I “received lemons and made lemonade.”

I am honored that one of the “Human Connection” Series painting is now at permanent display at the Houston Methodist Hospital.

As a participating fashion artist at Cultural Thread Workshop and Exhibition in 2024, my art being about uniting the people, I created a cultural outfit consist of tunic and a hat. The tunic represents Pre-Islamic, Persian Cuneiform number “ONE”, symbolizing unity. The hat is made of a small silk and wool Persian rug shaped into a cone, then embellished with colorful jewel like beads and crystals representing the wealth and sophistication of design pattern in this culture.

I studied engineering to become financially independent, but my passion for art elevated me to pursue my art full-time.
I have learned that creating anything with your hands, invigorates the mind and releases dopamine to bring emotional stability and the feeling of accomplishment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would love to take my friend to the following special places:

JL Patisserie for breakfast located in Scottsdale.
Hike by the tallest fountain at Fountain Hills.
For dinner, I recommend Persian Room in Scottsdale.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Agustin Vargas
Artist/Architect
Director Of Curatorial @ Xico Inc.
sagrav_a@hotmail.com
www.agustinvargas.com

Website: HTTPS//:mitrakamali.com

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Image Credits
Pictures taken by myself, Mitra Kamali.