Aynaz Najafi is an Iranian visual artist currently based in Rome. She holds a Master’s degree in the History of Ancient Iran, with a focus on the influence of Manichaean miniatures on Iranian Islamic art. She trained in Persian miniature painting under master Reza Mostajeran in Isfahan, developing a strong foundation in traditional techniques that continue to inform her work today. Since relocating to Italy in 2022, she has continued her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan and has exhibited internationally in Switzerland, Milan, and Rome.

Working within the visual language of Persian miniature, Najafi reinterprets its aesthetic and symbolic traditions to address contemporary realities. Her practice centers on the condition of women in Iran and the broader Middle East, examining how patriarchal structures, along with political and religious forces, shape women’s lives.

Rooted in her lived experience, the work draws from both personal memory and collective narratives. Her paintings reflect resilience, resistance, and acts of defiance, presenting the identity of Iranian women as complex and continually negotiated. While her earlier works carried implicit political and anti-religious undertones, her practice has become more direct and confrontational following her migration from Iran. Working in a context that allows greater freedom of expression, she has developed a more explicit visual language that positions her work as a form of resistance.

Najafi’s compositions bring together historical references and contemporary imagery, creating layered spaces where past and present intersect. Influences from Italian art history, particularly the work of Sandro Botticelli, appear in her attention to form and poetic structure. These elements are recontextualized within a contemporary framework, allowing traditional visual systems to engage with urgent political and social concerns.

Through Unveiled, Najafi offers an intimate yet fleeting perspective on what it means to exist as an Iranian woman today. The works invite viewers to reflect on identity, visibility, and the ongoing tension between tradition and transformation.