Helen Zarin (Born 1970) was born in Shiraz, Iran. She can remember beginning to paint at the early age of 5. After noticing her talent, her family encouraged her to invest in her artistic endeavors. In high school, she studied with Saber, the well known Persian teacher and artist. Helen later enrolled in the Art and Culture Society, which was a national organization for gifted artists in Persia. At university, she refined her skills in the various mediums, preferring to work mainly in oils and pastels. Since she started pursuing a professional career as an artist, she has earned many national awards for her works and has been recognized by the Iranian Society. Conditions in her native country of Iran eventually compelled her to turn elsewhere for creative nourishment.
In the pursuit of this artistic autonomy, Helen journeyed first to Europe where she exhibited mainly around Vienna. She says that talent and hard work are not enough for an artist to blossom and progress, creative freedom in the right atmosphere is essential. In 1993, she settled in the US where she continues to work and study today. Helen’s technique and style of creating colorful, beautiful artworks with pastel is atypical. Her work with collage, oil and mixed media is sophisticated yet playful and vibrant. As she creates, her fixative becomes part of each piece. She seals the pastel at multiple phases along the way before she completes the piece. Her figures are often modest and minimalist, yet alluring. Helen’s work of is both stimulating and pleasing to the eye.
