Meet Amanda Kazemi . We are very excited to have Amanda (she/her) make her Brea Gallery debut in our 2023 Made in California Exhibition as the Solo Show Winner! Amanda was gracious enough to answer a few questions about her introspective collection of charcoal drawings on display titled Woven Together.

[Brea Art Gallery]: How did you start working in charcoal?

[Amanda Kazemi]: I used to primarily work in graphite until about two years ago when I was encouraged to use charcoal by my mentor. I’d avoided it because of the chalky quality but found some brushes and sponges that resolved the textural issue. I fell in love with the rich contrast I could achieve without getting the shiny reflection that sometimes graphite can leave. Since then, it’s been my medium of choice. Although recently, I’ve been incorporating pastels into my work.

[Brea Art Gallery]: What can you share about your solo show, Woven Together?

[Amanda Kazemi]: Woven Together is the body of work I’ve created over the past few years. It reflects the story of my lifelong, ensuing growth journey and the revelations I’ve uncovered as I embarked on a new chapter of my life. My black and white charcoal drawings weave together the duality I’ve experienced along my healing and growth journey and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. Anthropomorphic animals, plants, and human figures dance together on the wood panels to reveal my adoration of classic literature and fables. Through them, I unpack the underpinnings of my Mexican-Iranian identity that I once ignored. The pieces highlight the importance of self-reflection, community, and friendship and learning to feel comfortable taking up space, literally and figuratively.

[Brea Art Gallery]: Who are your top 3 artists right now?

[Amanda Kazemi]: Gustave Doré has been an ongoing favorite of mine. His black and white illustrations are full of whimsical creatures that speak to my love of vivacious animal characters, fables, fairytales, and classic literature. The dramatic gestures and scenes Doré depicts are something I try to create in my work, taking on an allegorical narrative.

Adonna Khare is another artist whom I find incredibly inspirational. She mixes unexpected combinations of animals that tether around each other, capturing the absurdity of life. Khare often uses animals as stand-ins for humans, which I also incorporate into my work. I think animals can elicit a sense of kindness and empathy in humans, making it easier to see ourselves and others in a raw, less confrontational state.

Last but not least, Caledonia Curry, also known as Swoon. Her vision and community-based projects inspire me to continue thinking outside of the box. I think art can be incredibly healing for both the artist and the viewer; marrying that with communal intention and love is admirable. Swoon’s multimedia work and installation pieces elevate 2D artwork to an immersive experience, inviting people to be curious. I also desire to create work that stokes curiosity and allows viewers to see themselves within the work.

[Brea Art Gallery]: Who encourages you to create art?

[Amanda Kazemi]: Creating art has felt innate. It feeds my mind, body, and soul. It’s been my outlet, diary, therapist, and stubborn necessity. But aside from my own desire to create art, I’ve had many friends, mentors, and strangers instill the importance of making my art. Additionally, seeing other artists tackle self-expression in any art form encourages me to keep going.

[Brea Art Gallery]:What advice would you give artists who may not see themselves and/or culture represented in art spaces or collections?

[Amanda Kazemi]: This builds off my answer to the previous question, but I think something important is to remember that you matter, and your art matters. There is an incredible disparity in diverse representation in art spaces that’s only recently been discussed in the public sphere. These conversations are a good starting off point, but I think focusing on creating art that celebrates our identities and brings to light our experiences is a tangible step in the right direction. And despite the crippling self-doubt one might experience, you must show up for yourself and believe in your worth. I don’t think anyone else will do the work for us, so it’s just that much more of a reason to keep showing up when you can and holding on to what stokes your fire.

[Brea Art Gallery]: What are five things you can't live without?

[Amanda Kazemi]: 1. My dogs Smoosh, Gaia, and Ranger. Nothing can quite soften my heart like being around my dogs. All three of them have such unique personalities that bring so much joy to my life. Ranger is such a tough cookie who started off life as a stray dog in Mexico. He’s ornery and a bit of a wild card but by far the best cuddler. Smoosh is a strong-willed little pug that does whatever he wants when he wants while simultaneously following me around everywhere. Gaia is a gentle giant, an angel baby that can do no wrong.

2. Water. This sounds silly because we need water to survive, but water is my favorite beverage. I drink about a gallon of water daily and lug around my giant bottle everywhere I go.

3. Hiking and walking. There’s nothing more grounding to me than feeling the sun permeate my skin on an open trail or mountain. One of the things that I love most about hiking is the faint whistling sound the wind makes as it passes through trees or bushes in the absence of noise pollution. I also like getting a bit of cardio in, I sleep so well after a good workout.

4. Yoga. I’ve been practicing yoga for about a year, and it’s been integral to my daily routine. I look forward to it every day because it’s 20 to 30 minutes I dedicate to myself as an uninterrupted time to focus on breathing and recentering. It’s also helped a lot with my feelings of anxiety.

5. Art. Drawing, dancing, singing, writing, and any other art form keep my going. I’m in awe of the work people create and express. Although I primarily use my drawing as a form of self-expression, where I draw inspiration can sometimes come from unexpected places, like a line from a book or a song. Art is so incredibly powerful; immersing myself in all types of art keeps my wheels spinning and my curiosity at the forefront.

[Brea Art Gallery]: Where else can people see your work or what's coming up next?

[Amanda Kazemi]: I am currently showing a couple of pieces at the Laguna Art Museum for the LCAD MFA Exhibition, Outlook/Insight, until May 29th. The works I am showing are some of my newest pieces, where I have begun introducing red-toned paper with black and white charcoal. Additionally, I’ll have some new work at an upcoming MFA thesis show at the LCAD Gallery from June 1st to June 25th.

Biography

Amanda Kazemi is a visual artist based in San Diego. She primarily uses graphite and charcoal to create her artwork and pulls inspiration and direction from animals, plants, and the human figure. Her work often speaks to life’s dualities such as grief and beauty, resistance and growth, and unfolding shifts in her own perspective. She will be graduating with her MFA this spring, while opening her solo show at the Brea Gallery and the Laguna Art Museum.

Amanda's website

Amanda’s instagram

Thank you so much Amanda for sharing a bit of herself with us! You can see Amanda’s solo show, Woven Together, as part of our 2023 Made in California Juried Exhibition from April 29th to June 23.

The Brea Gallery is proud to present

Woven Together

by Amanda Kazemi, running concurrently with Made in California.

Celebrating Amanda's Iranian and Mexican heritage, this introspective collection of charcoal drawings weaves together whimsical nature scenes reminiscent of Aesop's fables, alluding to underlying life lessons, personal experiences, and mementos of the past.

Join us on Saturday, April 29th from 5pm-7pm to celebrate Amanda’s solo show and group exhibition for our 38th annual Made in California Juried Exhibition!

We will be open Wednesday - Sunday

12pm - 5pm

$3 General Admission