Mitra is an emerging artist from Iran, based in Vancouver, Canada. Soon After immigrating to Canada, she fell in love with Ceramics and commenced her career as a ceramist in 2011. She pushed herself to a greater challenge by setting up her own studio and taking commissions for small businesses. Mitra then took her journey in Ceramics to the next level by starting her education in Ceramic Design at University of the Arts London, UK. After two years receiving her diploma from UAL, she moved back to Vancouver and transferred her education to Emily Carr University of Art and Design. Studying in these two universities helped her to expose herself to broad opportunities and a range of methodologies. This time she tried not to just work in the studio, but to see clay as a tool to move it to the real world, and challenging people’s perception of the material.

Her work has exhibited at group shows at the Pangolin London, Ceramic Art London, Central Saint Martins and The Wedgwood Museum.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I create functional as well as sculptural vessels, and I believe that the parameter of being a vessel simultaneously create boundaries and endless possibilities which makes it so fascinating for me to explore.

My work is the dialogue between deformation and refinement, abstract and convention, familiarity and mystery. In my work, I try to interrogate these opposite positions and challenge the viewers to revisit their perceptions. Though form, surface, group installation, size, and calligraphy, in my work I have tried to address different issues through ceramics; such as environmental issues and how to have an ethical, efficient approach in ceramics, depicting physical pain through materiality of clay and creating objects which reflect social issues of class division and ostentation with some cultural elements from Iran, my home country. I have also tried to give little clues to a bigger meaning that make the viewers want to explore the piece as well as creating a space of contemplation, leaving viewers to have their own interpretation of the artwork.

Student Award 2018