Giti Ganjei

As an artist, my socially sensitive inner vision propels my commitment to raise awareness through conceptual paintings. Utilizing metaphors, the human body, and nature, my objective, particularly evident in my tree painting collection, is to spark public awareness and initiate conversations about prevalent global issues. These issues, whether from the past or present, near or far, have a profound impact on our lives. Having experienced ten years of war with Iraq before immigrating to the US, the horrific Holocaust, and the ongoing Ukrainian war deeply resonate with me due to their compromising effects on human rights and dignity.

Many of my paintings underscore the repercussions of discrimination, limited rights, and entrenched cultural beliefs imposed on women. These constraints aim to keep them obedient, compromising their dignity and sovereignty.

As an Iranian -American woman, Giti possesses a unique and compelling life story. In her early 30s, determined to leave Iran, Giti, along with her husband and son, embarked on a perilous journey, arriving in the US as refugees in 1989. Despite lacking a Western cultural background, language proficiency, and prior work experience, she overcame numerous obstacles, establishing two businesses and nurturing her family, all while holding steadfast to her passion for art. Entering her early 60s, Giti decided to embrace the opportunity life had given her to pursue her artistic calling. Drawing from her rich multicultural experiences, she explores themes of women and their cultural boundaries, human relationships, discrimination, and racial and social dynamics on a global scale. Her work also reflects a profound love and appreciation for nature, showcased not only in her paintings but also in her photography.

Informed by recent women-led movements, such as the uprising in Iran reclaiming the right to choose and ongoing debates in the US regarding women's rights to their bodies and life paths, Giti's recent paintings draw inspiration from these powerful narratives.