For this week’s release, I photographed my mom and baby bro. After my dad passed away when I was 10, my mom put herself through cosmetology school and began cutting hair to support us. She was an incredible provider, making us feel like we had everything we needed, even when we didn’t. Truthfully it was the love and creativity that made us feel rich! She started painting at a young age (around 12), self taught. Her parents saw no value in her talent and encouraged her not to pursue art as a career. Although she stayed loyal to them, she never stopped painting as her truest expression of self. Growing up surrounded by her and my father’s paintings, an environment of beauty and safety was created. The influence of Persian tapestries and colors are symbolic stories told from centuries past, which I still carry in me today. As a first generation immigrant who has never had the chance to see my home country, these pieces symbolize the intersection of how i grew up between two worlds. Moreso they honor my Mom Shahin. As I capture her in her home, it’s not lost on me how hard she has worked to create a beautiful environment for herself. By hand she has reupholstered every couch in the house (more than once), painted every painting, cooked every meal, every day and more. Here she is pictured with some of my favorite paintings of hers, ranging from when she was 15 to one she did this last year. ♥️🖤