Afsaneh Zagheh

Biography

Dreams we truly believe in eventually find their way to us. The journey may be long, shaped by obstacles and unexpected turns, but faith has a way of carrying dreams beyond time.

Art has been my language since childhood. My mother was the first to recognize my artistic sensitivity. More than simply encouraging me, she taught me that dreams are worth pursuing with courage, perseverance, and unwavering belief.

I was nine years old when the Iranian Revolution changed the course of my country, and one year later, the Iran–Iraq War marked my childhood with fear, uncertainty, and loss.

In the years following the Revolution, artistic education—particularly the visual arts—was effectively prohibited under ideological restrictions, and art schools remained closed for years. Thanks to the perseverance of countless artists, to whom I will always remain deeply grateful, this path eventually reopened. I was then able to study Fine Arts, focusing on watercolor painting, sculpture, porcelain art, and photography. At the same time, I exhibited my work in solo and group exhibitions, including exhibitions dedicated to women artists and several exhibitions in Tehran.

Life, however, had another path waiting for me.

Losing my mother at the age of approximately forty-five, following what was expected to be a minor cosmetic procedure, became the defining turning point of my life. Her passing transformed our family forever and brought new responsibilities into my life, especially caring for and supporting my sisters. Through this experience, I learned that true strength often emerges from our deepest vulnerability.

In search of a freer future, I left Iran—a country whose ancient culture and enduring heritage will always remain part of who I am. My journey first took me to Germany and, nearly ten years ago, to Provence in the south of France.

Surrounded by Mediterranean light, olive trees, lavender fields, and the quiet rhythm of nature, my artistic language found a new direction. Oil painting and ceramics became my primary means of expression, allowing memories, light, and hope to come together in a new visual narrative.

Today, my work reflects a journey between two cultures, two landscapes, and two inner worlds—a journey that is still unfolding.

Artist Statement

What Light Conceals

I do not paint darkness. I paint the light I have always dreamed of living in.

My work emerges from the meeting point between memory and light, between what has been lived and what continues to exist in silence.

I do not seek to represent reality as it appears. Instead, I paint what a place, a face, or a fleeting moment leaves behind within me. For me, painting is an emotional language rather than a simple representation of the visible world.

In my work, light is more than illumination. It is memory. Colour is more than colour. It is emotion. And silence is the space where untold stories continue to exist.

The figures in my paintings often appear calm, yet their gaze holds a secret. They carry memories, silent fears, and invisible wounds. I never reveal these stories because I believe every viewer should be free to discover a part of themselves within the work and bring their own memories to it.

Today, the light of Provence, its olive trees, lavender fields, and the colours of the Mediterranean deeply inspire my work. Yet beneath this light, the past is always present—not to be explained, but to be felt.

I believe beauty is not the absence of darkness, but the ability to discover light after passing through it.

If, while standing before my paintings, a viewer pauses for a moment, feels the light, embraces the silence, and senses the quiet presence of memory beneath the surface, then I feel the work has fulfilled its purpose.