Elham Shafaei received her B.A in Painting from the Science and Culture University, Tehran, Iran. In 2010 she moved to Malaysia where she obtained M.A (Fine Arts) in Papermaking and PhD (Fine Arts) in Painting that examined the role of melancholia in creative life. The results of this research are manifested in a body of artworks as well as written dissertation. In early 2017 she relocated to United Arab Emirates, where she currently resides and pursue her studio practice. She has been the co-founder and editor of contemporary Identities international online art magazine (www.contemporaryidentities.com) since 2018.
Elham’s studio practice can be summed up as a diary that notates her daily histories with different techniques, materials and processes. Each moment in the studio is a conscious decision to bracket her from the practicality of life in favor of reflective indulgence in the ‘life’ of images and objects. Currently, she is working on a few research projects involving in different forms of expression including painting, collage, sculpture, installation, video and sound art.
Elham’s art has been featured in solo and group exhibitions in Iran, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates, UK, Portugal, Ukraine, Hungary, Bangladesh, China and Thailand.