Meet NEGAR ZONOOBI | visual artist (painter)

We had the good fortune of connecting with NEGAR ZONOOBI and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi NEGAR, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve always turned to art as my way of understanding the world. As a quiet child, I spent most of my time drawing especially birds and animals. My mom still laughs about how she’d hide my sketchbook, hoping I’d play outside more, but I’d just find it and go right back to drawing.
Those early moments were more than just play. Drawing helped me connect with the world around me. Birds, with their incredible variety of form and color, became my first teachers in seeing beauty and detail.

Even when I started studying physics, I couldn’t ignore how much I needed art in my life. Eventually, I made the choice to follow that calling and shifted my path to painting.
Today, my work continues that journey of connection of human with nature .
Pursuing art wasn’t a decision. it was a necessity. , process, and belong.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
my art is deeply rooted in exploring the connection between nature, and humanity . .I aim to create intimate ,layered dialogue between the inner self and the outer world .my drawings are not just images ,they are visual traces of thought ,shaped by memory, emotion , and lived experience. I’m drawn to botanical forms,their veins, curves and structure ,seeing echoes of human body in their growth . I deconstruct and reassemble natural elements ,merging them with geometric precision and transparent layers .this interplay of soft and solid, organic and structured ,reflects the complexity of emotional and cultural identity .

I believe what sets me apart as an artist is my cultural and personal background .I grew up in Iran ,where culture is deeply intertwined with poetry and particular way of experiencing the world ,Iran with its complex political and social landscape .thoes experiences ,restriction ,suppression ,and all those emotions that comes with living in such an environment have significantly shapes my thoughts ,feeling and my works and find their way through the pattern that are at once chaotic and poetic .
my journey as an artist has been far from easy .like any profession, it requires hard work, patience ,and resilience .as an immigrant , I’v faced even more challenges ,including starting over in a new place and adapting to new circumstances.but throughout it all,I’v held into my belief that art is my refuge, my way of making sense of the word .thats why I show up every single day ,not just to create art, but to live my life as an artist,, I mean everything in life can be and art , The way you drink your tea, How you decorate your home. . The food you make. How you talk, you think . And the way you feel. Life is art.”

its not always easy but im commitment to this path and I believe that dedication and persistence are key to success in any profession including art.
“Throughout my journey as an artist, I’ve learned that life is a constant process of growth, change, and evolution. Every experience, every emotion, every day teaches me something new. And through my art, I strive to capture and express those lessons, that evolution.
One lesson that’s been particularly impactful for me is the challenge of finding balance-between the softness and roughness of life, between flowing with the waves and standing firm in what I believe.
This interplay shows up in my work, with soft and solid forms, organic and structured lines, reflecting the complexity of navigating our inner and outer worlds.
I want the world to know that my art is my way of processing life, of finding balance, and of exploring what it means to be human in this world. By seeing the world with both an inward and outward gaze, I hope to create a kind of synthesis, to find beauty and meaning even in the midst of sadness and cruelty.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to LA, I’d take them to the places where nature and art breathe together.We’d start at the Getty Center not just for the art, but for the way the light falls on the stone, the gardens spilling over the hill, and the quiet view of the city below. It feels like thinking and resting at the same time.
A morning at The Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens-wandering through cactus gardens, Japanese ponds, and rose paths. I’d want them to feel how peace lives in plants.
For art that moves the soul, we’d visit The Broad, LACMA, Marciano foundation which is one of my favorite place and many amazing galleries in the town .
And for stillness with a view Griffith Park, its a place of mystery and wonder ,for me its like a sacred spot ,perched on a hill ,a sanctuary for the sky and the moon .

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
If I could give a shoutout to someone who changed my artistic path, it would be to my mentor, Pooya Aryanpour. My artistic journey would not be complete without recognizing him . His ability to draw out my inner realities, ignite my curiosity, and guide me through periods of intense growth has been nothing short of transformative., I entered a deep period of growth-from 2018 to 2021—when I spent most of my time in the studio, painting, reading philosophy, and exploring who I am.
During those years, I was searching inward, trying to know myself more. Pouya didn’t tell me what to do—he listened, questioned, and gently pulled at the threads of my thinking. He helped me see how my inner world, and my individuality could flow into my art.. Through his guidance, I learned not only how to express myself, but also how to communicate with others, how to be seen, and how to make work that truly matters.

Pouya was more than a teacher. He was a light. And I’m deeply grateful for his presence in my journey.

Website: https://www.negarzonoobi.com

Instagram: negar_zonoobi

Image Credits
All image credit is for myself