Hoz Naghashi - Painted Pool by Zari Etemadi

Hoz Naghashi - Painted Pool 
Zari Etemadi
Acrylic On Canvas
30.875"h x 24.875"w x 1.375"d - framed
2024

In this painting, the little sparrow enters a painted pool, which symbolizes human society, repeatedly changing its colors in an attempt to blend in and hide its identity. However, despite its efforts, the sparrow is ultimately caught and destroyed by the Commander, representing oppressive powers that target those who seek freedom and resist conformity.

The sparrow’s sacrifice mirrors the fate of many who challenge authority in oppressive regimes, risking their lives for justice, equality, and freedom. Through the depiction of this small, vulnerable creature, I aim to illustrate the struggles faced by those who dare to defy unjust systems and fight for change, even when the price may be their own lives.

The sparrow’s journey is a metaphor for the courage to transform in the face of adversity and a reminder of the heavy cost that often accompanies the fight for freedom.

Get to Know the Artist:
Zari Etemadi’s creative path began in architecture, a discipline her parents encouraged over her early passion for art. She graduated as the first female and international valedictorian from the University of Tennessee’s School of Architecture, later joining Jung/Brannen Associates in Boston and contributing to landmark projects in Dubai, UAE.

Her transition into art came unexpectedly in 1998 when a commissioned artist withdrew from creating a large-scale work for the Dubai Police Academy Officers Club. Taking a leap of faith, Zari completed the 2.5-meter painting herself, her first exhibited piece, leading to numerous commissions for prestigious venues including Dubai Festival City, Jumeira Rotana Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, TNT, and XEROX, as well as private clients.

A self-taught artist, Zari works across styles and media, with gesture as a central thread. For her, gesture embodies both movement and the passage of time, each mark a record of memory, identity, and cultural inheritance. In recent years, her focus has turned to the cultural erosion of Iran after the 1979 revolution.

Now based in Austin, Texas, she merges ancient Persian textures, patterns, poetic symbolism, and political undercurrents to bridge past and present, beauty and loss, preserving the enduring spirit of her heritage.