Fatemeh Burnes is an artist, educator, curator, and activist based in Los Angeles. Classically trained in Persian art and verse, Burnes also studied biology, modern Persian poetry, and western artistic practice – including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, art history, and exhibition design – in Iran, Europe, and ultimately in California, where she received her BFA and MFA in art and art history.. Since 1992 she has exhibited her own work nationally and internationally, curated over 100 exhibitions, and authored numerous publications.

Burnes’s painting and photography focus on nature and human nature by looking at modern events and tragedies, both ecological and social, and how those events manifest in contemporary life. Some of her most current work highlights environmental and identity issues, specifically in the context of her experiences as an immigrant and as a woman.

“Goddess of Discord,” 2023, oil, handmade paper, and spray paint on canvas, 72″ x 96″

“Tower of Pride,” 2023, oil, pigment, collage, and carving on panel, 16″ x 16″

“Under My Skin,” 2022, oil, pigment, handmade paper, and piano rolls on canvas, 44″ x 44″