Shahnaz (“Shah”) Nia is a multi-disciplinary artist that lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. Although she grew up in Atlanta, she was born in Toronto, Canada and is the youngest daughter of Iranian immigrant parents who fled their homeland after the 1979 revolution. Shahnaz’s inclination for creativity has always been second nature to her as this has been rooted in her family’s legacy for generations. Her great grandfather was a renowned calligraphist in Iran, and her mother was a naturally skilled artist in her day. Shahnaz’s work ranges from oil painting to woven tapestries. Her work is a meditation on human existence and a reflection of the mystical beauty of nature, earth, and beyond. Shahnaz’s method of practice is heavily intuitive and she strives to evoke a sense of awe and wonder in the observer. She is interested in having an experience with the materials at play to manipulate scale, depth, and atmosphere in an effort to transport the viewer into an imagined space. The imagery seen in Shahnaz’s work is intimately tied to her life experiences and is inspired by underlying questions about our existence and place within the universe.
Selected Group Exhibitions:
2023 - Delavar, Free Market Gallery. Atlanta, GA.
2023 - 60th Annual Juried Competition Exhibition, Masur Museum of Art. Monroe, LA
Curated by Jovanna Venegas
2021 - 14th National Annual Juried Exhibition, Prince Street Gallery, New York City, NY
Curated by Sangram Majumdar
2019 - August Open Exhibition, Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA
Curated by Julia Kwon
2009-2011 - Showcased various works in the Raw Space Gallery, The Granite Room Gallery, and the 14th Street Playhouse Theater, all located in Atlanta, GA. Exhibits were organized by the Dodekapus Art Collective
Reviews/Publication:
2019 - “A Conversation with Shahnaz Nia: Best in Show for the August Open Exhibit 2019”, artleague.org
Awards:
2019 - “Best In Show” in group exhibition, Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA
2007 - Georgia Governor’s Honors Program attendee for the category of visual arts
Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA