PRIYA ASSAL' S WORLD

Fantasies of a Modern Persian Bride

2011-08-31T11:05:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to say that i finally gave birth to this fantasy of mine...! Creating this show was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done because of it's complexity.
Here's some photos for now...

NEW STAGE in my art career!

2011-01-15T22:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Lovely people,

After a long break and much internal and external exploration, I came to discover this past year my passion and gift for installation art. While i have spent over 15 years painting imaginary characters such as the Pompolinis, The Immaculate She's and the MiniShe's, I am now creating imaginary spaces for my audience to walk into and have a unique experience in.
It has been a truly fulfilling and powerful transition and i am having a ball!

I am currently in Tehran where I am working on a show called Fantasies of a modern Persian bride, which has been inspired by my own wedding.
Stay tuned for more!

I do not repent video

2010-03-13T18:10:00.000-08:00

I Do Not Repent from priya assal gheysari on Vimeo.

Video of Mapriya 2009 Open Studios

2010-01-29T12:14:00.000-08:00

Priya Assal Gheysari Art Explosion October 2009 from Yasmin Mawaz-Khan on Vimeo.

I am an Iranian Woman and I do not repent

2009-12-20T17:45:00.000-08:00

Photo of my first installation piece! it involved video, poetry reading and sculpture.
I hope to have a video soon so people can get a better experience of it.
I also hope to be doing more installations this year.... It's really fun and gives me a lot of room to express my ideas and concepts.

Upcoming show!

2009-10-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

This show opens the evening of Friday Nov. 6 from 6 to 9pm and goes on through Nov.28.
For the first time I will am creating an installation piece, using sculpture, sound and video to honor the goddess within.
I will specifically be paying homage to my Iranian female lineage, dead and alive, whose wisdom and courage inspire me everyday.
This is a group show by 30 edgy artists and is NOT TO BE MISSED!

Address: GALLERY 550,
550 2nd Street Oakland
(between Clay St. and Jefferson St.)

MiniShe cooking in the oven....

2009-10-11T17:09:00.000-07:00

I'm too excited to wait until this new MiniShe is done being fired and painted.
Here she is in her raw form still.
Check back in to see her done! She'll carry many surprises....!

SF OPEN STUDIOS

2009-09-28T19:15:00.001-07:00

Opening Night
Saturday October 9, 7-11pm

Come and visit the new studio space!
Studio 201 (second Floor)

We'll have a DJ, drinks and bites.

The studio will also be open to the public
Saturday 10, Sunday 11, 11-6pm

Address:
ART EXPLOSION BUILDING
744 Alabama Street (between 19th and 20th) SF

see you there!

STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF IRAN

2009-07-20T00:14:00.001-07:00

Pillow for you pet?

2009-01-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

My friend Jennifer just got a Mini-She pillow for her kitty but the doggy seems to have claimed it....

Mini-She Pillows

2009-01-14T13:08:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited about these super cute Mini-She pillows.
Check them out and email me if you want one.
You can pick out your felt color and your fake fur color too.
They're one of a kind, custom made with love.

$50 each.

Interview with Priya--Tehran 09

2008-10-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Priya Interview--Balancing the Feminine and the Masculine from priya assal gheysari on Vimeo.

SAN FRANCISCO OPEN STUDIOS 2008

2008-10-02T16:27:00.000-07:00

DATE: Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th of October 2008
11am—6:30pm (doors open to the public)

ADDRESS: Priya's home/studio
128 Ripley Street @ Folsom
San Francisco CA 94110

Quote of the Day!

2008-09-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

" The only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live,mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn, burn, like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars...

(Jack Kerouac)

Coming back

2008-08-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

Wow,
I know it's been a long time since i've posted on this blog.
This year was a big transitional time in my life and I needed to take some time off to figure out what the next step was going to be for me.
Well, to make a long story short i'll go down this list:
I got engaged to Bijan, the man I've had the privilege to share my life with for the past three years.
I started school at the Academy of Art in San Francisco as an undergraduate student majoring in Illustration--Best decision I've made in years...
I went to Turkey for the third Peace in the Middle East Rainbow Gathering and had a blast.
I also wrote my first short story.
Here's a picture of me and bijan.

Experimenting

2008-03-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

I did this painting at the Revelations workshop in Seattle.
Took me forever to get a picture of it.
Micheal Hussar (currently one of my top favorite artists) invited the model to fly up form L.A
I love his idea of "creating" a live figure from head to toe and then painting her--something that I'm inspired to do at some point.

ALL A GIRL NEEDS IS....

2008-01-26T14:14:00.000-08:00

.... a bit of POOF!
Yes, this is Jackie, out poof star of the month!
Her attire turned many heads as she headed down the streets of Bernal Height last sunday, looking more like an explosion on four legs than a dog.

Attending the Revelations workshop in Seattle!!

2007-12-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

Wow, I'm about to enter a crazy art world the first week of January 2008.
A workshop for concept artists put together by Massive Black and conceptart.org
here's a link to last year's workshop in San Francisco called "Insomania"

http://features.cgsociety.org/stories/2007_04/massive/player.php

December Art Salon at SomArts!

2007-12-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

I will be showing some of my work at an art salon from Dec.18h to Dec.22nd 2007 at the SomArts Cultural Center in San Francisco with 11 other artists.

If you've been waiting for an event to come and see my work, this will be a great opportunity!
Please click on the bellow link for more information.

http://www.mckinleyartsolutions.com/artsalon.html

All A GIRL NEEDS....

2007-11-04T21:46:00.000-08:00

....Is a bit of POOF!
Here's Cici, a poof I met on a sunny Sunday in the mission.
I fell madly in love and never bothered to mark down the phone number on her collar.
My heart's been aching since...
"Dear God, please cross our paths once again..."

Green Festival after party Fashion Show!

2007-11-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

My twin sister Tala and I will be modeling at the Green Festival Fashion Show at Club Six in San Francisco on Nov.10
The show is from 10 to 11pm.
It'll be a great party so come by and support the green movement!

Pictures of Iran

2007-10-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.lucasgray.com/video/peacetrain.html

Peace Train to Iran , slide show of Iran , music by Cat Stevens

Quote of the Day!

2007-10-23T21:53:00.001-07:00

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and then go and do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

-- Howard Thurman

Commissioned painting!

2007-10-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

Here's some pictures of a painting I was commissioned to do for Xoopit, a new search engine company. It's called "full moon by the river"

Opening at White Walls and Shooting Gallery

2007-10-15T17:19:00.000-07:00

This past saturday I had the pleasure of seeing artwork by some awesome artists in San Francisco.
The Shooting Gallery and White Walls always show great art so if you've never been there and your like the unexpected , GO GO GO!
The two galleries are connected by a doorway and have their openings at the same time.
The landscapes are by a Brooklyn artist Joel Dugan and the figures are by Kukula and Travis A.Louie.

Open Studios--3rd weekend of October

2007-10-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

My doors will be open to the public on October 20/ 21 from 11a.m to 6pm.
Address: 128 Ripley St. #128 S.f 94110

Please join me at my home/studio where you can see art, purchase original paintings and Giclee prints and hang out with me!

I look forward to seeing you!
Priya.

Priya posing for islamic wear in Iran....

2007-10-03T15:06:00.001-07:00

sohadesign.com/swf_spring/gallery.html

ALL A GIRL NEEDS...

2007-10-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

....is a bit of POOF.
This is the first of my many poof entries.
Nothing excites me as much as coming across some poof.
Ladies you know what i mean....

Quote of the Day!

2007-09-26T14:44:00.001-07:00

"All behavior, every act of this world, is based on the desire for love. This desire causes us to seek for approval, acceptance, attention, power, fame, and fortune. Unfortunately, however, love cannot be gotten this way, and we become frustrated and unhappy.

Only by loving can we find love and be happy."

-- Lester Levenson, from The Ultimate Truth

BURNING MAN!!!

2007-09-11T20:46:00.001-07:00

It's been a week since my return from Burning Man, and man, i'm still in recovery mode.
It is a mad world out there and at the same time so much more sane than the one i live in s.f
The theme was green and it's the least green I've been in a long time.
A couple of my friends and i built what was meant to be a gingerbread house but on the second day the storm took half of it away.
It was a bit disappointing to have an unfinished art project but i decided to get over it fast. Instead I chose to just be greatfulf to have a space to live in with a roof and an air conditioner which is luxury out there.
I got to fly on a little plane over the playa , take a steam bath every evening, get the best massage of my life, sleep little if at all, dance on a bar in the middle of a crazy sand storm, and participate in a breast appreciation circle ( i recommend it for every women!)
Here's some pics...

Quote of the Day!

2007-08-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

"The most visible creators are those artists whose medium is life itself.
The ones who express the inexpressible--without brush, hammer, clay or guitar.
They neither paint nor sculpt--their medium is Being.
Whatever their presence touches has increased life.
They see and don't have to draw.
They are the artists of being alive..."

Juxtapoz Magazine-Exposed!

2007-08-23T00:23:00.000-07:00

The Show at 111 Minna in S.f this past Friday was awesome!
The paintings were happy to be there and looked great; we sold two Mini She's ( Desiree and Trixie)
Enjoy the pics!
love,
priya.

SHOWING at 111 Minna this Friday Aug.17

2007-08-13T22:20:00.000-07:00

...When i first moved to San Francisco and started going out, I discovered 111 Minna.
It became my favorite art gallery in town.
It's got a great atmosphere and the art there is usually really good.
Plus, it's a bar/club and you can groove all you want.

I just found out that I'll be showing there this Friday!!
This is a Juxtapoz event ( my favorite Art magazine ever i promise!)
And although i didn't get picked as the August issue winner, I'm so honored to show with other amazing artists and god damn it next time I'll win!

It'll be a fun party anyway and I'll get to see your beautiful faces.
For those of you up for it, we'll be making our way to the Anon Salon afterwards.... yes indeed...

Flyer attached...
or check out:
http://myspace.com/beinjux
http://anonsalon.com/aug07/index.html

Peace,
Priya.

ps: I'll be there around 10:30 pm ...
Indeed a lady enjoys being embellished with jewelery and fine threads...
...and that takes time.

Opening show at White walls

2007-08-13T10:38:00.001-07:00

I went to see Jeremy Fish's new art at White Walls this past Saturday and was totally blown away by how far one's imagination can stretch.
He had used his own figures as the canvas on which he expressed them.
He had also taken his signature elements and used them as patterns creating a stencil effect to give depth to certain areas.
The night was hot, the crowd excited and the art brilliant.
What did i learn in it all?
That there are never ever ever any SHOULD'S in life and certainly not in art.
check out:
http://whitewallssf.com
http://www.sillypinkbunnies.com (The art of Jeremy Fish)

One day in Tehran...

2007-08-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

So i just made a 5 min. movie of my time in Tehran.
This is no big art project but just a way of sharing some of Tehran's vibe with you all.
I thought that it might be interesting for those who have no idea what it's like over there....

2007-07-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

I was visiting my parents in Tehran/Iran this June.
It really is a different world over there and what people value most i feel is relationships.
People spend a lot of time together...
Family dinners, afternoon tea/coffee, party at night...
70% of the population in iran is under 30 years of age, did you know that?
Tehran seemed much more quiet because the religious police has been being very hard on the women about the islamic dress code and arresting people left and right on the streets.
Also everything has gotten very expensive, including food, gasoline, rent...
The wealthy crowd has many opportunities to get richer and the lower class struggles more more every day.
People don't talk about the possibility of war between iran and the U.S so much and if they do, they are mostly of the opinion that it won't happen.
The truth is, they are already so preoccupied with economical and social problems while living in one of the most polluted cities on the planet, that it doesn't leave much room to think about war.
The attitude is: we'll deal with it when/if it happens.

What i love about the streets of Tehran is that they are filled with fruit trees and they curve and are tiny compared to the streets in America.
I'm thinking about spending more time there.
Maybe 3 months a year.
The art scene is booming in Tehran and art collectors around the world and looking for good art there.
I got to meet with a few successful artists and sold a Mini She while i was there.
It's time to take the little ladies back there and spread some warm powerful energy in the air....

2007-07-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

This April i went to Turkey and Iran.
For those who know me, you know that i take a trip to Turkey every year in the spring to take part in the Peace in the Middle East Rainbow Gathering.
The gathering takes place somewhere in a national forest and hundreds of people from literally all over the world come to meet each other and hang out for anywhere from a few days to a whole month.
We live a tribal lifestyle and do our best to live in harmony with the nature around us.
This year, the day after i arrived, the army police came and requested that we leave because we didn't have written permission to be where we were.
We ended up spending two days on the beach waiting to find a new place to move to.
In the end, we went to the same beautiful spot we were in last year-- two hours north east of Antalya.
In total we were two hundred people and the gathering was a fairy tale.
Anyone can join next year.
contact me and i'll hook you up---you'll love it and your presence will make a huge difference.

2007-07-10T22:36:00.000-07:00

While visiting New york in March, i went to see my nutritional Guru, the lovely Dr.Jubb.
I have done his famous liver cleanse four times and have detoxified my body quiet a bit through it.

For those of you who do not know him ,Dr. Jubb is a live food-ist and heals people through his extensive knowledge in live food nutrition/cleanses.
He owns a little store/take out cafe in the east village where you can purchase all sorts of awesome live products (the best of the best in the market) like honey, appley cider vinegar, supplements, oils etc... and also order food/teas to take out.
yummy...
As soon as paris (my friend) and I walked in, we were offered samples from almost every dish and were invited to sit in on one of Dr.Jubb's local T.V shows that he does twice a week.
To make a long story short, we ended up eating there everyday.
What could be better?
I never got to find out exactly how old he is--no one was willing to tell.
He looks about 38 to me and rumors have it that he really is 50 something....!
That's him next to me in the picture and also on the video--judge for yourself...
love him...

2007-07-10T22:05:00.000-07:00

o.k so after L.A i went to new york to check out the New York Art Expo.
Interesting but full of work that was so so.
What i learned was that a lot of galleries go to publishers to find artists as opposed to going to the artists themselves.
So artists can sign up with the publishers, give them a percentage of their sales and sit back and do what they like to do--paint!

what else?
Oh yeah, i visited Jonathan Levine Gallery, a rock star pop surreal gallery that i'd love to show my work in one day.
Please please Jonathan, take me in!
Finally i had the honor to tour inside of Alex Grey's Sacred mirrors Chapel.
It was breath taking, a profound spiritual experience---sorry i couldn't take any pictures...

2007-07-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

In March i went to L.A to what i hear is the first pop surrealist gallery in the U.S, called LA LUZ DE JESUS.
The gallery does a group show every year in march to give a chance to new artists to get their work seen and recognized.
Bijan and I went down for the opening.
The scene is very different from conventional galleries.
It's very colorful, vibrant, social, fun and the artwork is the most unique i've ever seen.
They have a huge store filled with toys, books, gadgets that is connected to the gallery and i felt like i had gone to an amusement park rather than an art show.
But it was an art show and it was awesome.
check out the pics and video...