I started painting for the first time in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Sydney, when suddenly, space became important, perhaps the most important thing of all.

I found myself looking closely at the spaces around me and wondering where people feel safe. What rooms do we create for ourselves? What quiet corners and hidden nooks do we retreat to when the world feels uncertain?

Born in Iran, my family fled persecution in the early 1980’s, arriving in Adelaide when i was still young. My understanding of place and home is deeply informed by my experience as a refugee and by living between cultures, carrying both memories of where I came from and the life I have built in Australia. I think this is why I am drawn to intimate spaces and quiet interiors, the small details that make people feel grounded, safe, and connected.

As a complete novice, I began painting with whatever paint sets my children had lying around the house. What started as curiosity quickly became a way of creating calm, comfort, and stillness. Each tiny room I paint is an exploration of peace, a small sanctuary imagined through colour, light, and memory.

Alongside my art practice, I am a qualified counsellor with a Bachelor of Psychology and a strong passion for wellness, psychological safety, and resilience. Much of my professional work centres around helping people feel safe, supported, and connected, themes that naturally flow into my artwork as well.

To learn more about my counselling and wellness work, visit www.heartwell.net.au