Dr. Amanda Roya Modesta-Keyhani was born in New York in 1967 to a father who was a academic educator and practicing surgeon and a mother who was a teacher. Her parents were both great educators and had a profound impact on her early development. Her Family moved to Tehran, Iran in 1970 and lived there until 1985. She witnessed first hand the Iranian revolution in 1979. The aftermath of the Iranian revolution and the social decay had a profound effect on her. She was also impacted by the Iran- Iraq war, which ended in the late 1980s. During that time she experienced famine, shortages of basic supplies, and the impact of war and inflation on a society. Her keen observational and analytical skills enabled her to narrate and depict caricatures and satirical work on the declining political and social situation. Unfortunately some of her work did not survive when she migrated to the United States in 1985.
At an early age she devoured the pages of textbooks of art. She has been strongly influenced by the works of Goya, David, and Durer. Thus, she has developed a keen interest in History Painting. Additionally, she was able to witness the political influence of large murals, banners, and propaganda on the society while in Iran. The narratives of these murals have influenced her works significanty insofar as many of her own works are on large canvases. The finer miniature work of Persian miniaturists also had a remarkable influence on her work. In addition to growing up in Iran, extensive travel in Europe and Asia allowed her to explore the interconnection between the Western and the Eastern art worlds firsthand. She has viewed art in museums in Paris, Florence, Zurich, Geneva, Amsterdam, Venice, Rome, Isfahan and Istanbul.
After she migrated to the United States in 1985 she began her studies in biochemistry at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated with Cum Laude with honors in Liberal Arts in 1991. Subsequently, she attended Medical School in Toledo Ohio at Medical College of Ohio and received her Medical Doctorate degree with honors in 1995. She completed her training in Internal Medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona in 1998. After she settled in Phoenix, Arizona she began her private practice. Throughout her educational journey, she continued to paint.
She continues to pursue her formal art education at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona and has taken cources from 1999-2004. Her work is in national and international private and corporate collections. She has successfully completed large commissions for private collectors and actively works on mixed media. She regularly accepts commissions for private and corporate collectors.
Art Education
Summer 2004 Scottsdale Artists School, Scottsdale Arizona
1999-2004 Arizona State University, Tempe Arizona
1992-1994 Toledo University, Toledo Ohio
Summer 1989 American College of Switzerland, Leysin Switzerland
Education
1995-1998 St. Josephs Hospital, Phoenix Arizona
1991-1995 Medical College of Ohio, Toledo Ohio
1986-1991 Ohio State University, Columbus Ohio
Selected Exhibits
May 2004 “Carry On” Mixed Media Show, Annex, Phoenix Arizona
April 2004 “Small Works” Mixed Media, Chrisis Gallery Phoenix Arizona
Feb 2004 Performance Art Group Show, Paper Heart Phoenix Arizona
Membership & Associations
2004- present Shemer Art Center & Museum
2004- present Art Link
2004-present Arizona Artists Guild
2002- present Contemporary Forum
1998- present Phoenix Museum of Art
Selected Private and Corporate Collectors
Dr. and Mrs. Irizarry
Midwestern Associates LLC
Dr. and Mrs. Keyhani
Dr. William W. Sokoloff
|
