Fahimeh Amiri - Multimedia Artist

Fahimeh Amiri grew up in Tehran, Iran. When in second grade she became the pupil of Grand Master Hossein Behzad, then the greatest living Persian miniaturist, and apprenticed with him for many years. She attended the Tehran School of Fine Arts, becoming the first girl to earn the schools highest honors. In 1973 she received a BFA from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University. Her art has gained international attention through exhibitions including the International Art Expo in New York, the distribution of her original poster designs in the United States and abroad, and the publication of children’s books, including “The Monkey Bridge,” “The Prince Who Ran Away,” and “Babri,” honored by The Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators.

Fahimeh is an adept and versatile artist. Her specific areas of expertise are Persian Miniature Painting, Contemporary Art,
illustration of children's books, and graphic art.

You can now find Fahimeh in her cozy Sugar House home teaching students to illustrate in a fascinating program called "Children as Illustrators." This program is part the Amiri Fine Art Studios that Fahimeh runs.

Amiri Fine Art Studios

Amiri recently immigrated to Salt Lake City from Boston and has been offering a distinctive form of art class. Her approach involves harnessing the narrative imagination of her students through the creation and development of their own picture books.

“Each child creates their own story. This form of pictorial language is appealing to kids and as each book is colorfully illustrated, page by page a unique narration unfolds,” Amiri comments. The cultivation of a strong visual vocabulary, Amiri asserts, can best be performed through the communication of a story that expresses itself solely through imaginative paintings.

The net result is that childlike expressions created by the students are aesthetically creative and contextually delightful. They are refreshing and alive - profound and silly- meaningful yet light. Amiri’s main interest is to awaken a child’s expressive power. Once this is achieved she believes their artistic interest and talent will evolve naturally. This creative and thought provoking process not only stimulates the child’s imagination but is also a significant achievement in that it encourages the child to further creative activities. “The transformation I see in my children is substantial” Amiri notes, “within the development of the first few pages of their story, they become drawn in, and both their artistic talent and imagination soars.”

Amiri’s students range from age six to twelve and each finished book bears testimony to each child’s joy and hard work. These books will be on display in the Children’s Gallery at the Salt Lake Main Library.

If you are interested in classes art classes for your children ages 6 and up, please visit the Amiri Fine Arts Studio for more information. If your child is already enrolled in one of Fahimeh's fabulous art classes, you can view many of the student's pieces here.

View photos from the 2006 Exhibition at the Salt Lake City Main Library.