The Full Story
About
When a baby enters the world, parents typically fret over the simple things: whether their newborn is warm enough, getting enough to eat, or napping on schedule. No new parent imagines bombs dropping around their child. Yet, that was the chaotic world Kamelia was born into.
A Childhood Shaped by Conflict
She arrived in 1987, a loud and dangerous time in Tehran. The Iran-Iraq War meant the streets were thick with dust, noise, and the constant threat of explosions. As an infant, she experienced this chaos, and even now, she can vividly recall the smell of crumbling structures, the feeling of dust on her skin, and the deafening crashes. This deep-seated trauma manifests as blinding PTSD, with blackouts and sensory flashbacks that defy the fact she was only a baby.
A New World, New Challenges
At age seven, she moved to the United States, envisioning open arms, endless opportunities, and a throng of friends eager to embrace her "exotic" background. The reality was starkly different. She struggled with the language, faced teasing, and quickly learned to fear judgment. Her only refuge was art.
Finding Solace and Purpose in Art
At age 11 she began with photography and won numerous awards. Throughout her childhood, sketching and drawing offered a profound sense of calm. It was a portal away from her "little immigrant world" and into a vibrant realm of color and creativity. Art became her sanctuary, the only place where the weight of her experiences dissolved.
Her journey to heal from war trauma has been a solitary one. In a country not directly impacted by war, therapists lacked the specific knowledge and tools to help her cope with her form of PTSD. She's also carried the burdens of being an immigrant, the child of young and low-income parents, and a brown female. While life has offered its share of blessings, it has also been a continuous struggle. Through it all, only her art has provided true nurture and healing.
Art as Advocacy
She wants her art to be more than just a personal outlet; She want it to be a voice. She wants viewers to see her work and recognize the children caught in the crossfire of war, to feel empathy for those who endure nightly bombings, and to acknowledge the countless childhoods, lives, and joys stolen by conflict. Her hope is to one day teach art therapy to those who have unwillingly suffered through war—the innocent bystanders, those whose lives were irrevocably altered, and all who now perceive the world through a different lens.
About Kamelia's Art
She likes a good challenge. Most of her art doesn't include a brush and canvas but unique tools that are often not associated with art. For example she's used towels, nails and her hands to make paintings.
