Shana Nys Dambrot
Mina Alikhani is an Iranian American painter from Los Angeles, whose approach to stylized figurative surrealism speaks to a process of questioning, updating, and defying conventional cultural and religious strictures — not least in her focus on the female nude and women in secret conversations hinting at stolen liberty. Thinking about life and freedom as a woman inside the sometimes oppressive social traditions, and specifically moved to action by the social justice movements inside Iran, Alikhani embraces terms of revolution and defiance to describe the energy infused into her work, though the images are meditative and elegant as well as provocative and taboo.
Mina Alikhani
L.A. WEEKLY: When did you first know you were an artist?
MINA ALIKHANI: I’ve always known. When I was a little girl, I used to read books day and night.… and as I would imagine the characters, I would sketch little pictures of them, and any empty space I could find on the pages. I think I knew then.
What is your short answer to people who ask what your work is about?
A reflection of the times… and Life, love, death, destruction, and everything in between.
What would you be doing if you weren’t an artist?
I honestly have no idea…
Mina Alikhani
Did you go to art school? Why not?
No, art school wasn’t meant to be a part of my journey. As it turned out, I was meant to obtain my “formal art education” from the school of life. I’m continuously driven to learn, grow and evolve as an artist by way of intuition, curiosity, and instinct.
Why do you live and work in LA and not elsewhere?
I’m from L.A., it’s the devil I know. I don’t necessarily plan to stay here forever. Who knows what the future holds?
When was your first show?
My first solo exhibition, Chapter 1: DEFIANCE was in September 2022 at Hubble Studio in Los Angeles.
When is/was your current/most recent/next show or project?
I recently had a solo exhibition during Art Basel Miami in partnership with Gibson brands where I debuted my series, titled Chapter 2: REVOLUTION.
Mina Alikhani
What artist living or dead would you most like to show or work with?
It would be a dream to have work shown with Salvador Dalí or Matisse … Oof, what a fantasy!
Do you Listen to music while you work?
I’m always either listening to music or a podcast of some sort. The selection or genre is very mood based. I put on whatever medicine my spirit craves at that moment. Sometimes my mood calls for Herbie Hancock, sometimes it calls for Tupac.
Socials:
IG: @mina.alikhani
Web: artworkbymina.com
Mina Alikhani
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