Neg Kahrizi

Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a painter. Despite pursuing a very different education and career path in the beginning, at the age of 25, I decided to leave everything behind and devote myself fully to art. Since then, I have been pursuing painting as a full-time mission, and I have never looked back.

While self-portraiture was my main field of interest from the beginning, I always asked myself about the reason. Yet, I didn't have a clear answer for many years. I tried other subjects and attempted to find meaning in everyday life, but there was something in self-portraiture that drew me to it, stronger each day.

In 2023, after experiencing heavy depression following the "woman-life-freedom" era in my country, I decided to leave. Hoping for significant changes, I found none. Wandering the streets of Kadikoy, Istanbul, I questioned what I wanted to do next and the purpose of being a painter and being alive. It was then that I started writing.

Throughout my life, I have been questioned a lot—every single decision I made, my appearance, behavior, beliefs—by family, partners, friends, and society. I lost myself in this process.

In 2019, I began a series of self-portraits with the goal of having a solo show somewhere. ...

M.A in painting Alzahra University of Art, Tehran, Iran
B.A in industrial engineering, Tabriz, Iran

- 2023, Group exhibition, Anonymously from Ira, CulturLab LIC, New York, USA.
- 2022, Group exhibition, Portrait of artists by themselves, Iranian artists forum, Tehran, Iran.
- 2021, Group exhibition, Quarantine, Kabood art atelier, Tabriz, Iran.
_ 2018, Group exhibition, 3rd Zhokal art festival, Pardis Mellat gallery, Tehran, Iran.
- 2018, Group exhibition, 1st national painting expo held by Alzahra university, Tehran, Iran.
- 2018, 3rd national exhibition of visual arts, Iranian artists forum,Tehran, Iran.
- 2017, Group exhibition, women of my country, Saye Gallery, Tehran, Iran.