BIOGRAPHY

Behnaz Fatemi (she/her) is an Iranian artist who moved to Canada in 2018, based in the KW region. Fatemi graduated from the University of Guilan, Iran, with a BFA in Studio Arts. She is doing her MFA at Waterloo. Fatemi is an interdisciplinary artist who works across various mediums and techniques, mainly in drawing, sculpture, installation, and performance. She investigates the deep connection between humans and their behaviors. This investigation is an answer to her question of how human sensibility interconnects with topics such as society, politics, religion, personal beliefs, and the like. Her recent research-creation effort (the triangles series) was a reaction to her immigration-related experiences, using repetition as a method of hilling.

Behnaz's work has been exhibited in group and solo exhibitions throughout Iran and Canada. She was the 2020-2021 Kitchener Artist in Residence, working on immigrant- and immigration-related themes in the Pegman project. In the same year, she was also one of the members of the Art$Pay Artist in Incubator program supported by the Region of Waterloo. In November 2020, Behnaz received Arts Awards Waterloo Region in the Emerging Artist category.

Photos by Magda Spurek

Education:

Academic Programs
Master of Fine Art (Art Studio), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada, 2022-2024.
Bachelor of Fine Art (Art Studio), University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, 2010-2015.
Thesis title: Glimmer
Certificate of Course Completion in Arts, Sooreh Pre-University, Isfahan, Iran, 2008-2009.
Diploma of Arts in Graphic Design, Qods Art School, Isfahan, Iran, 2006-2008.
Professional Programs:
From Idea to Execution, Mohammad Hossein Emad, Mahe-Mehr Cultural and Art Institute, Tehran, Iran, 2016-2017.
Foundations of Visual Arts, Ruyin Pakbaz, Shen Atelier, Tehran, Iran, 2016-2017.
Kindergarten Teacher, Iran, 2016.

Exhibitions:

Future Exhibition:

Atrophy, Cambridge Centre for the Arts, Cambridge, ON, Canada, 2021.
In progress, Berlin Tower Artspace, Kitchener, Canada, 2021
In progress, Rotunda Gallery, Kitchener, Canada, 2021
In progress, Clay and Glass Gallery, ON, Canada, 2022

Solo Exhibitions:

Residue, Electric Room (Dastan Basement), Tehran, Iran. 2017.
Glimmer, Matnemrooz Gallery, Isfahan, Iran, 2015.

Group Exhibitions:

Lumen Festival, There is no U-Haul big enough for my move to sky castle, Waterloo, Canada, 2020.
Untitled, the Museum, Kitchener, Canada.
Eleventh Annual, Montakhabe Nasle No, Home Art Gallery, Tehran, 2019
Eight continent, Iranian Artist Forum, Tehran, Iran, 2019.
Drawing and Gavel, Drawing Museum, Tehran, Iran, 2018.
Versus 3rd Young Artists Exhibition, Iranian Artists Forum, Tehran, Iran, 2018.
Untitled, Drawing, Manouchehri Historical House (A Dastan Outside Project), Kashan, Iran, 2018.
Heterogeneous, Fereshteh Art Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2018.
The Artworks of Isfahan Painters Association, Vesal Art Gallery, Shiraz, Iran, 2017.
Hush, A Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2017.
Concurrence 2, Black, Jaleh Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2017.
Contemporary Young Artists, Ayrik Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2017.
Untitled, Ou Gallery, Rasht, Iran, 2017.
Selected Artists - 6th Damounfar (Faber-Castell) Biennial, Mellat Cinema-Gallery Paradise, Tehran, Iran, 2016.
Untitled, Arte Gallery, Rasht, Iran, 2015.
1 Day Sale, No. 6 Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2015.
Dar Miyan Shakh o Barge Bagh, Kouche Bagh Gallery, Rasht, Iran, 2015.
Zarbin, Khatam-al-Anbiya Gallery, Rasht, Iran, 2015.
Artworks of Guilan University Students, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran, 2014.
Sinus Bedune Lahje, Elahe Gallery, Tehran, Iran, 2014.
Untitled: Painting, Culture and Art House, Rasht, Iran, 2013.
Untitled: Photography, Culture and Art House, Rasht, Iran, 2011.
Untitled: Illustration, Kowsar Art Gallery, Isfahan, Iran, 2007.

Residencies:

2020 Kitchener Artist in Residence, Kitchener, Canada,2020.

Honors:

Awards Waterloo Region Winner, Emerging Artist Award, Canada, 2020
Honourable mention in 6th Damounfar (Faber-Castell) Biennial, Tehran, Iran, 2016.
Honourable mention in 1st Anzali Sand Sculpture Festival (Foorsh), Bandar-e- Anzali, Iran, 2015.
Honorable mention in 19th International Festival of Visual Arts for Young Artists, Gorgan, Iran, 2013.
Honorable mention in the 1st Zarbin Festival (University of Guilan), Rasht, Iran, 2013.

Job/Voluntary Experience:

Education programs volunteer, Clay and Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2019.
Painting Teacher, Nartiti Children’s Visual Arts School, Rasht, Iran, 2013-2015.
Painting Tutor, 17 Shahrivar Educational, Medical and Research Center, Rasht, Iran, 2014-2015.
Voluntarily teaching painting to children with chronic deceases, 2014-2015.
Education programs volunteer, The Button Factory Arts,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Clay sculpture workshop, Canadian Clay$Glass gallery, 2020