Roushan questions emotion using art

Raziah Roushan’s “Gypsy Brides” exhibit will be presented this month at MHCC’s Fireplace Gallery, and viewers of all ages and backgrounds should enjoy the vibrant and bold style.

Roushan is an artist and arts advocate who works with many mediums including oils, acrylic, charcoal, pastels, graffiti, murals, large- scale chalk art, and light construction and installation.

She displays imagery to match the unanswered question: “What is the cost (emotionally) of being in a committed relationship?” The meaning of her work is entwined with innovative twists that combine metaphors and symbolism within the more abstract cubist art form.

Roushan said, “Artists are the voice for people who can’t speak,” and said she likes to produce art in various mediums that appeal to more demographics than those who typically seek out particular forms of art. She said she uses numerous mediums to express her message in various ways. “One style of art doesn’t always (use) the best language to tell a story,” she said.

She also incorporates a voice, a struggle, or an accomplishment in her works and encourages people to ask questions, tell stories and debate her art. She said she’s received inspiration for her work from conversations overheard at previous showings of her art.

Originally, Roushan thought she was going to be an illustrator, so she learned different mediums and styles to be able to fulfill different expectations of potential clients, she said.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland in 2004, and traveled the world teaching networking and contracting for the purpose of visual art.

“Gypsy Brides” will remain on exhibit in the Fireplace Gallery through April 28. The Gallery is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

Advocate Staff