Parvin Pooya

Parvin Pooya’s art grows from a life shaped by two cultures. Born and raised in Iran and now based in New York, she draws on immigration, identity, belonging, and the political history of her homeland to create work rooted in storytelling.

Persian poetry and theater remain central to Pooya’s practice. She brings these traditions into contemporary forms, moving between different materials and approaches to build visual narratives where memory and experience meet. Many of her paintings are inspired by Persian poetry, illustrating Elaine Sciolino’s observation that poetry for Iranians is a powerful religion.

Her background in theater also shapes the way she thinks about art. Each work can be read like a story, carrying layers of history, emotion, and cultural meaning. Some pieces look inward, while others respond to moments of war and political change in Iran.

Pooya holds MA degrees from the University of Art in Tehran, Trinity College, and New York University. Her distinguished work is featured in the public collections, including the Hartford Public Library and the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center.