Reaching Print

**Faranak Siami-Namin (Fara)** Here’s a polished version of your profile for the online art gallery: --- **Faranak Siami-Namin (Fara)** Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1960, Faranak Siami-Namin is an accomplished architect and artist. Her childhood, enriched by extensive travel throughout Iran due to her family's profession, exposed her to a variety of cultures. This diverse background nurtured her lifelong passion for painting and drawing. Faranak graduated with a Cum Laude Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture from Al Zahra University in Tehran, where she had the privilege of studying under the renowned Iranian painter and art critic, Mr. Aydin Aghdashloo. Mr. Aghdashloo’s generosity and mentorship led to the formation of a small group of private students, of which she was one of the pioneering members. Faranak fondly refers to this collective as her "Group of Seven." Her educational journey included intensive studies in Art, Art History, and various artistic media. After marrying in 1980, Faranak continued her studies while raising two children. In 1987, she relocated to Sweden for two years, where she immersed herself in studying the Swedish language and literature. Over the years, she has lived in Iran, Sweden, and Canada (specifically Vancouver and Toronto), ultimately settling in Richmond Hill, Ontario, in 1993. Faranak’s career has spanned architecture in Iran, Sweden, and Toronto, but she gradually transitioned to desktop publishing and design, alongside a broad spectrum of visual arts. She founded her desktop publishing business in 1994 in Toronto. Her artistic endeavors encompass a wide array of productions, including paintings, portraits, architectural design, and graphic design. She also pursued further education in AutoCAD, Building Inspection, and the Ontario Building Code at a well-known college in Toronto, along with Building Technology, Design Option at BCIT in Vancouver, B.C. After becoming a single mother in 1995 and enduring hardships following a car accident in 1999, Faranak's work began to reflect her experiences, resulting in a series of deeply emotive, smaller-scale paintings and drawings. She has exhibited her art in Sweden, Vancouver, Toronto, and Iran, and participated in joint charity exhibitions in Toronto. Faranak is a devoted advocate for God, animals, and humanity, adopting a vegan lifestyle as a commitment to voicing the concerns of the voiceless.