Faculty of Art
Drawing and Painting
Meet the Artist
Raha
Alipourfard
Drawing and Painting- Minor in Integrated Media
“In my collections, I critique Iranian patterns and my cultural identity through mixed media paintings and their semiotics inspired by Persian rugs, Farsi calligraphy, and tiles motifs from mosques. Appropriated Farsi Poems, patterns, and figures agitate the distortion within me in my lived experience witnessing the Middle East lands.”
Raha Fard is an Iranian-Canadian artist, based in GTA, Canada. She had a Master’s degree in telecommunication engineering, and 15 years of experience; before studying drawing and painting at OCAD University. She works in multiple disciplines such as drawing and painting, installation, digital art, and making short films. Investigating her own identity as a member of the Iranian diaspora, her works are rooted in Persian traditional architecture and Persian poetry, with a focus on cultural and mystical themes which help her to explore and define her identity regarding her motherland and the mystical beliefs which she was raised with. Her works also engage with critical perspectives related to social issues happening in the world.She has participated in several group exhibitions in Iran, Canada, and Italy, and She got an “Online International Learning Residency” collaboration between OCAD U and Mapua University in the Philippines; in 2020. The short film Abaca-Kenaf produced in this residency by Raha Fard and her Filipino partner won OCAD U President’s Award for Best Cinematography and was nominated for 4 other categories: best film Project, best screenplay, best sound editing, and best fiction in film. Also, Kenaf, the Persian part of Abaca-Kenaf, was accepted into Farhang Short Film Fest. Recently, she was selected to participate in the Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Ontario Society of Artists in April 2022, and in July 2022 she will present her works at the 61st Toronto Online Art Fair. Also, she got an MFA offer from OCAD University and will continue her study for an Interdisciplinary Master's in Art, Media, and Design in the upcoming school year.
OCAD U - Faculty of Art
Integrated Media
Minor In progress, 2022
Iran University of Science and Technology, Tehran, Iran
Electrical Engineering-Telecommunication System, Master’s Degree
Major Completed, 2008
KNTU University, Tehran, Iran
Electrical Engineering-Telecommunication, Bachelor’s Degree
Major Completed, 2002
Painting Drawing Film Making Film Editing Musician- Playing Piano Writing-Short Stories Telecommunication Engineering
2022, Anima Mundi, ITSLIQUID International Art Fair
Venice, Italy
2022, The Archives of Merit: From OSA to OCAD
OCAD U, Toronto, Canada- Kunstmatrix
2022, 61 Toronto Online Art Fair, TOAF.ca
Toronto, Canada
2021, New Depths, Scarborough Arts' 36th Annual Juried Exhibition
Toronto, Canada
2021, Safe and Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care online exhibition
HeART of Healthcare Gallery, kunstmatrix, Toronto, Canada,
2021, Off the Wall Exhibition
Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2021, City of Art Exhibition 3
Gallery 1313, Toronto, Canada,
2021, Ongoing online exhibition on Partial Gallery’s website in OCAD University Artist Showcase
Toronto, Canada
2021, Ongoing online exhibition on artasiam platform as a Canadian-Asian artist
Montreal, Canada,
2021, Summer Time Exhibition
Gallery 1313, Toronto, Canada,
2021, New Era Online Exhibition
Eran Art Gallery, Artnet & kunstmatrix, Toronto, Canada
2020, Narrative through Digital Space
OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
2020, Richmond Hill Group of Artists Exhibition
Mill Pond Gallery, Richmond Hill, Canada
2020, Meta-Figure, the Body in Paint
OCAD University, Toronto, Canada
2019, First Year Students Exhibition
OCAD University, Toronto, Canada,
2018, Willowdale Group of Artists Exhibition
North York Civic Centre, Toronto, Canada
2016, Youth Art Exhibition
Milad Tower, Tehran, Iran
2022, OGS
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
2022, Accepted to participate in Toronto Online Art Fair
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
2021, Scarborough Arts' 36th Annual Juried Exhibition Staff Pick Winner for Visual Art
Scarborough Arts
2021, Recipients of RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers Career Launcher’s program for Partial Gallery’s OCAD University Artist Showcase, 2021
RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers Career Launcher
2021, Accepted to participate in Farhang Short Film Festival for Kenaf short film
Farhang Short Film Festival
2021, Accepted to participate in the Archives of Ontario Exhibition call
Accepted in the Archives of Ontario Exhibition call
2021, OCAD U President’s Award for Best Cinematography, and nominated for 4 other categories (best film project, best screenplay, best sound editing, best fiction in film) for Abaca-Kenaf short film
OCAD University
2020, Accepted to participate in Collaborative Online International Learning Residency
Collaborative Online International Learning Residency, OCAD University
2016, Shahrzad Series art competition winner
Shahrzad Series Director Selection
Celebrate the work of OCAD U’s class of 2021/2022!