I am a self-taught artist. My work has grown out of my experience as an Iranian woman. Born and raised in Tehran, I was always interested in visual arts, but began painting seriously in 1979 when the Islamic revolution drastically changed my life. During the tormented years that followed, painting was my sole means of self-expression, which remained a private affair. In this period, I used elements of still life, as it was not possible for me as a woman to venture outside the house to explore open spaces. I released and controlled my emotions through my brush strokes: at times volatile, at times in despair, and sometimes in an attempt to stay calm.
"Azar Golara"
1989: Hourian Gallery, Oakland Ca
1990: 3Cs Café, Berkeley Ca
1990: Annual Exhibition of Iranian Artists, Los Angeles Ca.
1990: Hourian Gallery, Oakland Ca
1991: Annual Exhibition of Iranian Artists, Los Angeles Ca
1991: Visalia Art League, Visalia Ca (Jury selected)
1992: Saint Paul Newman Center, Fresno (Jury selected)
1994: Saint Paul Newman Center, Fresno Ca (Jury selected)
1994: Society of Western Artists, Fresno Ca (Jury selected)
1994: Tulare County Fair, Tulare Ca (Jury selected)
1994: Saint Paul Newman Center, Fresno Ca (Jury selected)
1994: Society of Western Artists, Fresno Ca (Jury selected)
1994: Art League, Visalia Ca (Jury selected)
1994: Kings county Art League, Hanford Ca (Jury selected)
1995: Art Gallery, Santa Fe New Mexico
1995: Art League, Visalia Ca (Jury selected)
1995: Court Gallery, Three Rivers Ca
1995: Society of Western Artists, Fresno Ca (Jury selected)
1996: Society of Western Artists, Fresno Ca (Jury selected, 1st honorable mention in mixed media)
1997: Society of Western Artists, Fresno Ca (Jury selected)
2002: Pro Arts, Community of Artists of East Bay, Oakland Ca (Jury selected)
2003: Persian Center, Berkeley Ca
2006: Center for Race and Ethnicity Studies, Stanford University, Stanford Ca, “My Iran” single artist exhibit. www.ccsre.stanford.edu.
2008: The 19th international IWSF conference in Berkeley university of California.
