Mission Statement

I believe that art is not only created for aesthetics, but it is also a language of resistance, healing, and remembrance.Through the work I create, I strive to tell the stories of women in Iran, Afghanistan, and beyond whose lives have been shaped by violence, discrimination, and inequality. I was also victimized through the same types of experiences and have risen from a life of struggle to turn pain into art, silence into a voice, and suffering into hope.

From Poetry to Art — From Iran to the United States

I began writing poetry as a young child and had my first poems published in Iranian newspapers and magazines at the age of 19. At the age of 30, I was employed as an editor for political and cultural publications. Using my pen under the shadow of censorship, I created a voice fighting for women’s rights and all injustices against women.

In the next chapter of my life, I co-founded a feminist poetry and dialogue group, which was eventually shut down due to government pressure. During that time, I also taught art and photography at a few local high schools and the university. I was trying to awaken creativity and freedom in younger generations of women. Even in modern-day Iran, there is a continuous effort to silence a woman’s voice. As repression in Iran intensified, after the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement was established, it became impossible and far more dangerous for me to continue living in my own country. I made the decision to leave for the United States, determined to raise awareness and the voices of Iranian women on a global stage.

My Art: Giving Voice to the Voiceless

After arriving in the United States, I resumed my education at Central Washington University, majoring in Fine Arts, studying drawing, painting, embroidery, papermaking, sculpture, and art installation, despite already holding two degrees from Iran: a BFA and MFA in painting. It was my hope to seek a deeper understanding of contemporary artistic practice. I discovered my true path working in textiles, particularly Fibers, an art form historically shaped by women and often created in silence, and painting, which had long been dominated by men. It was my vision to create art merging both media, which imagined equity, resilience, and a more peaceful future for our shared world.

My Voice for Women Everywhere

During my time in the U.S., I have held several exhibitions centered on women — including shows in Seattle about violence against women and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. My works were also displayed on Human Rights Day and the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s movement, receiving attention and support from human rights advocates.

This year, on International Women’s Day (2025), I had the honor of participating in the collective exhibition Strand for Women, a global art project supported by the Catharsis Arts Foundation and hosted at Atelier Jolie, the creative space initiated by Angelina Jolie in New York- an experience that deeply changed my life. A feature about this exhibition was published in The New York Times, and seeing my name and my work among such brave, inspiring women affirmed that my sleepless nights of effort had meaning.

Please help me provide a voice for women who are suffering in silence

Despite these accomplishments, my path remains difficult. Through dedication and perseverance, I transferred to UMass Dartmouth, where I now study under a renowned professor in Fibers. I also work in the university’s photo lab. The position only covers 66% of my tuition, leaving me responsible for paying nearly $19,896.24 per year. As an international student, I am not allowed to work off-campus, and the cost of tuition and art materials is overwhelming. By supporting me, you are not only helping one artist; you are standing beside countless women fighting against oppression, inequality, and silence. I’m asking for financial assistance so that I may continue my education and to help support a cause that is so important, which I’ve spent my life advocating for.

Your support, no matter how big or small, will directly help me continue my education and create art that amplifies the voices of women who have been silenced.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for believing in justice, freedom, and equality through art as an act of resistance and raising awareness.

With love and gratitude,

Samaneh Sarchami