Biography: Roya Hosseini

Born in Tehran, Roya Hosseini graduated from Tehran University with a degree in chemical engineering. She began studying art in 1978 at which time she worked with oil paint. She has been highly influenced both by such Russian painters as Reppin and Impressionist masters like Cezanne and Manet. In her years of studying the Impressionists she leaned how to analyze her colors and to play with light, techniques which she continues to use today. She believes that Manet was the painter who touched her soul and left his mark. Under his influence Hosseini is more involved with line, form and color and less with subject matter. She strives to purify the soul by finding a way back to nature where man's rightful place lies: a place that has been dominated by the greed and materiality of modern life. Hosseini started her work with water color in 1998. She prefers this medium because of its fluidity, its simplicity, its ability to soothe and because it allows the artist to portray the tenderness of emotion. Work with water color needs a mastery of technique and yet it is uncontrollable because of its very fluidity, elements which Hosseini finds exciting. Roya Hosseini has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions across Iran where she is presently living and working.