Photo by PhenRell Photography
artist statement
After realizing I was navigating my life based on society’s expectations and family dynamics, things that told me what a woman “should” be, it became my mission to break out of these limitations at every turn and to rediscover my own voice. This experience has been liberating and at times overwhelming, and I explore these intense feelings in my portraits. With influences like Deborah Turbeville, Andy Warhol and Caravaggio, I illustrate women who have traded society’s expectation of composure and perfection for raw emotion and tension that’s either bubbling under the surface or completely spilling out. After I build the digital version on Procreate, I replicate each portrait on canvas using soft charcoal and acrylic. The charcoal allows me to release myself from all the should’s as I use it to emphasize the messiness of being an authentic woman, and the fast-drying acrylic lets me practice listening to my intuition as I make my way toward finding myself again.
artist bio
Shirene Rafie is an Iranian-American artist and curator born and raised in the Seattle area. Art has always been a large part of her identity as she grew up around artists, like her grandpa who did still life oil paintings and graphite portraits. Her love for the subject and thirst for knowledge led her to graduate from University of Washington with a Bachelor’s in Art History as well as a French minor and sales & marketing certificate, followed by earning a visual web design certificate at the School of Visual Concepts in 2019. When Shirene is not working in graphic design or making art, she is hanging out at coffee shops, writing poetry and watching her favorite show Frasier.
contact
Instagram Messaging: @shirene.rafie
Email: shirene.rafie@gmail.com
artist bio
Shirene Rafie is an Iranian-American artist and curator born and raised in the Seattle area. Art has always been a large part of her identity as she grew up around artists, like her grandpa who did still life oil paintings and graphite portraits. Her love for the subject and thirst for knowledge led her to graduate from University of Washington with a Bachelor’s in Art History as well as a French minor and sales & marketing certificate, followed by earning a visual web design certificate at the School of Visual Concepts in 2019. When Shirene is not working in graphic design or making art, she is hanging out at coffee shops, writing poetry and watching her favorite show Frasier.
contact
Instagram Messaging: @shirene.rafie
Email: shirene.rafie@gmail.com
upcoming & current shows
Slide Gallery Exhibition Title TBD (Seattle, WA), Spring 2025 (as curator)
Slide Gallery Exhibition Title TBD (Seattle, WA), Spring 2025 (as curator)
past shows
Art/Not Terminal Gallery (Seattle, WA), 2012
Pittsburgh Lunch & Superette (Seattle, WA), 2017
Cafe Cesura (Bellevue, WA), 2017
Wheelhouse Coffee (Seattle, WA), 2017
Freshy's (Seattle, WA), May 2018
CoCA (Center on Contemporary Art) (Seattle, WA), May 2018
CoCA (Center on Contemporary Art) (Seattle, WA), March 7 - April 20, 2019
Elliott Bay Brewing Company (Burien, WA), April 2019
Third Culture Coffee (Bellevue, WA), June 2019
Chophouse Row’s Art Walk (Seattle, WA), August & September 2019
Belltown Art Fair (Seattle, WA), October 3, 2019
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), November 10, 2019
Punk Rock Flea Market (Seattle, WA), December 7, 2019
Holiday RAWk 2019 (Seattle, WA), December 12, 2019
Holiday Pop-Up at Anthem Coffee (Puyallup, WA), December 21, 2019
Harper’s Hair Studio (Seattle, WA), February - April 2020
Belltown Art Walk (Seattle, WA), Virtual Art Exhibition Oct. 12 - 19, 2020
Sassafras (Seattle, WA), Virtual Exhibition Nov. 13 - Dec. 7; Instagram Showcase Nov. 13 - 20, 2020
Julian Peña Gallery (Seattle, WA), March 4 - 26, 2021
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), August 8, 2021
Julian Peña Gallery Home Away From Home (Seattle, WA), August 5 - September 24, 2021 (as curator)
Julian Peña Gallery Night Light (Seattle, WA), February 10 - 28, 2022 (as curator)
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), December 12, 2021
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), March 13, 2022
Night Market (Seattle, WA), June 2, 2022
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), June 12, 2022
Night Market (Seattle, WA), July 7, 2022
Belltown Art Walk (Seattle, WA), July 8, 2022
Fremont Fridays (Seattle, WA), July 22, 2022
Birds of Paradise group show (Tacoma, WA), September 9, 2022 8-11pm
Sassafras (Seattle, WA), October 14, 2022 - November 9, 2022
Base Camp Studios (Seattle, WA), October 14, 2022 - November 6, 2022
Studio 103 (Seattle, WA), December 1 - 17, 2022
Virago Gallery (Seattle, WA), December 1 - 26, 2022
Slip Gallery (Seattle, WA), December 9 - 28, 2022
Base Camp Studios (Seattle, WA), December 9 - TBD, 2022
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), December 11, 2022
Night Market (Seattle, WA), January 5, 2023
Doll Parts Collective (Seattle, WA), January 12 - 31, 2023
Radical Dimensions at River (Seattle), February 10, 2023 6-9pm
Grooving for Good (Seattle, WA), February 22, 2023 7-11pm
Night Market (Seattle, WA), March 2, 2022
Disco Clam's "Groovy Clams," a 70's-themed dance party (Seattle, WA), April 7, 2023
ART/BREAK (Seattle, WA), April 7, 2023
Woman, Life, Freedom show at Retail Therapy (Seattle, WA), March 9 - April 27 2023
"F*ckin' Around 'n' Around" show at Base Camp Studios (Seattle, WA), May 6 - 28, 2023
Wonder Mix + Market (Seattle, WA), May 25, 2023 @ 6-9pm
Night Market (Seattle, WA), June 1, 2023 @ 6-9pm
The Fishbowl Unwritten (Seattle, WA), June 8 - 29, 2023
Victrola Coffee (the location on E Pike St, Seattle), June - July 2023
No Bad Days Gallery July Art Walk (Seattle), July 13, 2023 6-9pm
Slide Gallery Sorry Not Sorry (Seattle, WA), September 8 - October 7, 2023 (as co-curator)
Beneath the Streets (301 Occidental Ave S in Seattle, WA), November 2 - December 4, 2023
A/NT Gallery Stories of Resilience: Artistry of Iranian Women (Seattle, WA), November 29 - December 29, 2023
The Seattle Project UNCORKED (Seattle, WA), January 27, 2024 7-10pm
The Fishbowl From the Margins (Seattle, WA), February 2 - 23, 2024
Design Within Reach Love, Breakups & Relationships (Seattle, WA), February 9 - 14, 2024
Mudlark Oddities Sadgirls Rage: Fragile Valentine (Seattle, WA), February 14 - 24, 2024
Art/Not Terminal Gallery (Seattle, WA), 2012
Pittsburgh Lunch & Superette (Seattle, WA), 2017
Cafe Cesura (Bellevue, WA), 2017
Wheelhouse Coffee (Seattle, WA), 2017
Freshy's (Seattle, WA), May 2018
CoCA (Center on Contemporary Art) (Seattle, WA), May 2018
CoCA (Center on Contemporary Art) (Seattle, WA), March 7 - April 20, 2019
Elliott Bay Brewing Company (Burien, WA), April 2019
Third Culture Coffee (Bellevue, WA), June 2019
Chophouse Row’s Art Walk (Seattle, WA), August & September 2019
Belltown Art Fair (Seattle, WA), October 3, 2019
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), November 10, 2019
Punk Rock Flea Market (Seattle, WA), December 7, 2019
Holiday RAWk 2019 (Seattle, WA), December 12, 2019
Holiday Pop-Up at Anthem Coffee (Puyallup, WA), December 21, 2019
Harper’s Hair Studio (Seattle, WA), February - April 2020
Belltown Art Walk (Seattle, WA), Virtual Art Exhibition Oct. 12 - 19, 2020
Sassafras (Seattle, WA), Virtual Exhibition Nov. 13 - Dec. 7; Instagram Showcase Nov. 13 - 20, 2020
Julian Peña Gallery (Seattle, WA), March 4 - 26, 2021
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), August 8, 2021
Julian Peña Gallery Home Away From Home (Seattle, WA), August 5 - September 24, 2021 (as curator)
Julian Peña Gallery Night Light (Seattle, WA), February 10 - 28, 2022 (as curator)
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), December 12, 2021
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), March 13, 2022
Night Market (Seattle, WA), June 2, 2022
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), June 12, 2022
Night Market (Seattle, WA), July 7, 2022
Belltown Art Walk (Seattle, WA), July 8, 2022
Fremont Fridays (Seattle, WA), July 22, 2022
Birds of Paradise group show (Tacoma, WA), September 9, 2022 8-11pm
Sassafras (Seattle, WA), October 14, 2022 - November 9, 2022
Base Camp Studios (Seattle, WA), October 14, 2022 - November 6, 2022
Studio 103 (Seattle, WA), December 1 - 17, 2022
Virago Gallery (Seattle, WA), December 1 - 26, 2022
Slip Gallery (Seattle, WA), December 9 - 28, 2022
Base Camp Studios (Seattle, WA), December 9 - TBD, 2022
Tractor Tavern Makers Market (Seattle, WA), December 11, 2022
Night Market (Seattle, WA), January 5, 2023
Doll Parts Collective (Seattle, WA), January 12 - 31, 2023
Radical Dimensions at River (Seattle), February 10, 2023 6-9pm
Grooving for Good (Seattle, WA), February 22, 2023 7-11pm
Night Market (Seattle, WA), March 2, 2022
Disco Clam's "Groovy Clams," a 70's-themed dance party (Seattle, WA), April 7, 2023
ART/BREAK (Seattle, WA), April 7, 2023
Woman, Life, Freedom show at Retail Therapy (Seattle, WA), March 9 - April 27 2023
"F*ckin' Around 'n' Around" show at Base Camp Studios (Seattle, WA), May 6 - 28, 2023
Wonder Mix + Market (Seattle, WA), May 25, 2023 @ 6-9pm
Night Market (Seattle, WA), June 1, 2023 @ 6-9pm
The Fishbowl Unwritten (Seattle, WA), June 8 - 29, 2023
Victrola Coffee (the location on E Pike St, Seattle), June - July 2023
No Bad Days Gallery July Art Walk (Seattle), July 13, 2023 6-9pm
Slide Gallery Sorry Not Sorry (Seattle, WA), September 8 - October 7, 2023 (as co-curator)
Beneath the Streets (301 Occidental Ave S in Seattle, WA), November 2 - December 4, 2023
A/NT Gallery Stories of Resilience: Artistry of Iranian Women (Seattle, WA), November 29 - December 29, 2023
The Seattle Project UNCORKED (Seattle, WA), January 27, 2024 7-10pm
The Fishbowl From the Margins (Seattle, WA), February 2 - 23, 2024
Design Within Reach Love, Breakups & Relationships (Seattle, WA), February 9 - 14, 2024
Mudlark Oddities Sadgirls Rage: Fragile Valentine (Seattle, WA), February 14 - 24, 2024