PEGAH SAMAIE

MEDIUM

Painting

ARTIST STATEMENT

“My paintings move through the shadow of my past life. Painting is my way of expressing my emotion to the outside world, of showing love, passion, and hope.”

ARTIST BIO

Pegah Samaie is an American-Iranian realistic artist, born and raised in Iran and currently residing in the U.S. Her paintings serve as a reflection of both the challenges and opportunities she has encountered, particularly in relation to women’s political issues and rights. Samaie views these aspects of her life as windows, with the first focusing on her childhood in Iran until 2006, and the second capturing her experiences as a new mother. These pivotal moments have spurred her introspection, leading to a deeper understanding of womanhood in Middle Eastern culture.

“I eventually learned to use my past experiences consciously and subconsciously to express the reconciliation I am making with all the storms of my life. In rising from the wreckage and painting politics and issues related to women’s rights, I am recovering, reclaiming, and redesigning what it means to be a woman.”

Samaie’s art symbolizes her sense of freedom, influenced by the liberties she enjoys in the U.S. Today, she contemplates women’s identity, religion, and politics, exploring how these elements empower women to define their own freedom. Her paintings transcend mere windows; they serve as a means of communication with the outside world, offering inspiration and hope to women facing challenges in regions with limited freedoms.
“Painting is a way of expressing my experiences to the outside world, and the emotions of love, passion, and hope.”

Her artistic journey includes participation in group exhibitions at renowned venues such as 33 Contemporary in Chicago, IL, Abend Gallery in Denver, and Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art in Wausau, WI. Her work has been featured in publications like American Art Collector and Poets&Artists Magazine. Notably, she was a finalist in the Art Renewal Center’s 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th Annual International Salon Competition. Since 2019, she has exhibited at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. Samaie’s work is collected both nationally and internationally.

Samaie received her BFA and MFA with honors from the prestigious Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA. Currently, she works in her studio in Laguna Beach.