ARTIST STATEMENT

"My work is an exploration of liberation, memory, and structural tension. Drawing from a background in construction and spatial design, I approach the canvas as a physical build—layering heavy molding pastes, raw gesso, oil sticks, and gold leaf to create deeply textured, architectural surfaces.

Through intuitive gestural marks and vibrant color relationships, each piece records a process of uninhibited expression: transforming historical boundaries into spaces of freedom, rhythm, and light."

BIOGRAPHY

Elizabeth Azadi (b. Tehran, Iran) is a contemporary visual artist based in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Born amidst the political turmoil of the Iranian Revolution and spending her early childhood in refugee transition, Azadi’s foundational experiences established a lifelong preoccupation with themes of freedom, autonomy, and emotional resilience.

Raised by a father who worked as a muralist and furniture designer, Azadi developed an early reverence for spatial structure, scale, and craftsmanship. Prior to dedicating her practice fully to fine art, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, spent years managing complex structural projects, and studied fashion design at the Art Institute of New York City. This unique intersection of architectural rigor, tactile textiles, and spatial design profoundly informs her approach to the canvas.

Working across large-scale canvas, Azadi constructs highly textured abstract compositions utilizing acrylic, oil pastel, gesso, heavy molding paste, and gold leaf. Her work explores the tension between structural order and expressive spontaneity, capturing raw emotion through intuitive gesture and rich tactile surfaces.