Farima Fooladi

Artist Statement

I want to stop painting while still in progress. Traces of graphite lines, studies, and drawings are often visible in my paintings. I work intuitively and move fluidly between mediums, shifting from acrylic to charcoal or graphite as the work demands. This openness to material change allows thought and process to remain flexible. I return to a specific visual vocabulary throughout my practice, including historical sites, swimming pools, and tennis courts.

Growing up in Tehran during the political transition from monarchy to the Islamic Republic, I witnessed how social and political forces altered the urban landscape. Architectural spaces were transformed: open courtyards were covered, transparent windows turned matte, and public visibility gave way to surveillance and restriction. These experiences shape my visual language, where blurred views and fragmented imagery reflect the instability of memory and the unseen forces that shape our environments. In my childhood apartment complex, a communal swimming pool was never realized; instead, it was transformed into a garden due to the regime’s conservative values.

In my studio practice, I search for unfamiliar spaces and imagine alternative environments. I strive to create worlds that feel just out of reach, and the act of sharing that experience sustains my work. My paintings, installations, and site-specific projects examine the relationship between what we see and how we perceive it. Growing up in Iran, I found literature and architecture constant sources of inspiration.