Having earned her BFA in Painting from the Art University of Tehran in 2018, Helia Chitsazan relocated to New York City and obtained an MFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in 2023. Chitsazan's artwork has been showcased in various painting festivals in Iran and she participated in group shows at New Collectors Gallery (New York, 2021), Thierry Goldberg Gallery (New York, 2023), Pablo’s Birthday Gallery (New York, 2023), and LAbeast gallery (Los Angeles, 2023). She was awarded the 1st painting grant from Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation (Montreal, Canada). After Midnight - Chitsazan’s show at Fou Gallery (2023) signifies the debut of her artistic career, marking her inaugural solo exhibition.

Chitsazan employs her creative prowess to capture the intricate themes of memories, identity, absence, and ephemerality in her artwork. Her compositions evoke significant moments spent with loved ones in Tehran, Iran, which are now beyond reach. Chitsazan harnesses the power of her imagination to recreate those cherished moments of affection and intimacy, often rendering indoor spaces that offer a nostalgic sense of home. These spaces are where the secret double lives of Iranians occur—drinking, dancing, smoking, and holding hands—despite these activities being illegal in public. These moments are profoundly honest, emotional, and sincere demonstrations of her community. Chitsazan's oeuvre is an authentic and emotional expression of her personal memory and identity as an Iranian woman, conveying the inaccessible intimate emotions of the past. Her works offer an unvarnished and poignant representation of the deeply ingrained traditions and values of the Iranian community.

Biography

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