Reflections on My Artistic Journey

Art, for me, begins with observation, in the quiet pauses where the world reveals its stories. The water’s reflection, the roots beneath the soil, the fallen leaves after a long season, all hold symbols of renewal and resilience. These natural rhythms mirror our own journeys as humans, as artists, as people finding belonging across landscapes. My practice has become a space where I explore these connections, between land and identity, between my Iranian heritage and my life here in Canada.

This reflection is at the heart of my current body of work, Mosaic of Being, created with the generous support of the Edmonton Arts Council. As part of the Capital City Featured Creator program at the Edmonton Public Library, I will be sharing selected works from this series during my in-person event and hosting a workshop inviting participants to explore art, storytelling, and belonging through the lens of nature and culture.

Crafting Identity from Two Lands

The Mosaic of Being project began with a simple question: What materials can speak to both my memories of Iran and the landscapes that now shape me in Alberta?

To answer it, I travelled to Alberta lakes where I found fallen branches, pieces of wood, and other materials that carried the touch of the land. These raw elements reminded me of the ancient materials used in Persian art, earth pigments, natural dyes, and organic textures, grounding me in a tradition that has always been close to nature.

As I gathered these materials, I found parallels between the landscapes of Alberta and the textures of my memories from Iran, the rough bark of trees echoing the intricate patterns of Persian carpets, the flow of water recalling the fluid lines of calligraphy. Each discovery became a reminder that the natural world is a language of its own, one that connects cultures and transcends borders.

Bringing Everything Together

In my studio, I blend these collected materials with paint, Persian calligraphy, and imagery inspired by traditional carpets. I carve and layer, allowing branches and pigment to merge, a dialogue between the landscapes of my two homes. Through this process, my work becomes both a personal meditation and a visual conversation about cultural identity.

The fusion of natural and crafted elements reflects the duality of my experience, living between traditions while continually adapting to a new environment. I often think of my work as a bridge, where Persian motifs intertwine with the textures of Canadian nature to form something new, yet deeply familiar.

Sometimes, I incorporate digital tools to explore how technology can extend this dialogue, using 3D modelling or virtual sketches as a way to reimagine traditional motifs. For me, this balance between craft and innovation mirrors how many of us live today: rooted in heritage but reaching toward new forms of expression.

When I spend time in nature, near lakes, forests, or even the quiet trails around Edmonton, I’m reminded that the natural world teaches us how to endure change. Trees shed their leaves only to bloom again; water shifts constantly yet always finds its path. These are lessons that resonate deeply in my own journey as a woman, a mother, and an artist whose life bridges two worlds.

In Mosaic of Being, branches and bark are not just symbolic; they carry the presence of place. The wood I gather from a lakeshore becomes both a medium and a metaphor: material that has held generations, now becoming part of a story about belonging and renewal. The materials themselves hold the memory of the land, of the weather, and of human touch.

I believe that by pausing and looking closely at nature, we can rediscover something within ourselves. Art becomes a way of listening to the land, to memory, to the quiet voice that connects us to both past and future.

Knowledge Sharing

As part of my time as a Featured Creator at EPL, I’m excited to share my work through an upcoming artist talk and workshop. This event will allow participants to see the artworks from Mosaic of Being up close and explore their own creative reflections. Together, we’ll discuss how materials, stories, and memory can shape art that speaks to identity and belonging.

Libraries have always been places of connection for me, open spaces where people from all walks of life can share knowledge and inspiration. It feels fitting to bring this body of work into such a space, where the conversation between cultures and communities continues to grow.

Through this project, I’ve learned that creativity is not just about making something beautiful, it’s about building relationships: between self and place, between history and the present moment. I hope that those who join me at the library, or read this blog, will feel inspired to see the world around them, and within them, as part of a larger mosaic.

At its core, Mosaic of Being is about finding unity in diversity. Whether through the flow of Persian calligraphy or the texture of Alberta’s earth, I want my work to celebrate how identities, like landscapes, are ever evolving. Each mark, each found material, carries both memory and renewal.

Art reminds us that we are all connected, to the land and to the quiet stories unfolding all around us. All we need to do is pause, look closely, and listen.

Don't miss Mosaic of Being: Art, Nature and Cultural Connection on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Stanley A. Milner Library. Learn more about Leila by visiting Capital City Art.