Archway Gallery presents Nowruz – A New Beginning

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Archway Gallery presents Nowruz – A New Beginning, featuring new paintings and sculptures by Maryam Lavaf, on view February 5 – March 3, 2022.

The artist will be present to visit with guests during the exhibition opening reception on Saturday, February 5, from 5 – 8 p.m. at the gallery. There will be an Artist Talk at 6:30 p.m.

The word Nowruz means “new day.” Occurring on the spring equinox, on or around March 20, Nowruz is celebrated as the beginning of the New Year by more than 300 million people worldwide. For over 3,000 years, Nowruz has marked a new beginning and a sense of renewal. In her new series of abstract paintings and sculptures, Maryam Lavaf seeks to create an energy and vibrancy reflective of the Nowruz spirit as we move into the season of its celebration after a COVID-driven challenging 2020-2021.

Maryam believes that even the darkest situations contain a spark of positive energy. Our task, she says, “is to look for that spark – in nature, in humanity, or in someone’s eyes – to know it is always there, encouraging us to change and to move forward.” This year, as the world comes together to defeat COVID-19, Maryam encourages us to let the new beginning spirit of Nowruz serve as an inspiration to recover and rebuild in a more just and sustainable way. “Change is difficult, but it is necessary and is a natural part of life,” says Maryam Lavaf. “It challenges us to be open to possibility, to acknowledge our own resistance, and to celebrate the renewal and blooming we can bring forth.”

In this exhibition, Maryam Lavaf explores the concept of renewal by embracing change in her own view and approach to her work. The footprints of nature can be traced throughout Lavaf’s work. “Nature stimulates the primary sense – the ecstasy of existence and the essence of life -- for me,” she explains. “It’s the same sense that we experience in love.” Each of these new works begins with a sound from nature -- the sound of a raindrop or a leaf falling. She then allows each sound to form its own visual logic, and each work is guided by its own rules according to its unique demands. Collectively, Lavaf strives to present the elements of nature in abstract form through her work.

Maryam Lavaf began her life in Iran. She received a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Painting from Tehran Azad University in 2002. In 2004, Lavaf moved to Houston. Her first connection with the arts community in the U.S. was through the Visual Arts Alliance where she met fellow Archway artist, Becky Soria, who connected her to a group of artists at Winter Street Studios. In 2015, she began an exploration of ceramics under Jeff Forster’s supervision at the Glassell School of Art. She is currently an active member of Archway Gallery.

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Artist owned and operated since 1976. Archway Gallery, one of Houston’s, and the nation’s, oldest artist-owned and operated galleries, is located at 2305 Dunlavy and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. Since 1976, Archway Gallery has been exhibiting the work of the area’s finest artists, providing an excellent selection of affordable, high quality art including sculpture, pottery, and painting in a variety of media and styles. One of the more than thirty member artists is always on site, providing visitors a unique opportunity to meet the artists who created the work, offering a personal insight into the process. Each month features a special exhibition highlighting member artist(s). The public is invited to the monthly opening receptions that celebrate the new installations and work, usually held the first Saturday of each month from 5 – 8 p.m. In addition to monthly exhibitions, Archway also hosts a variety of demonstrations and monthly readings for local writers and authors, as well as a “Tea and Tour” program, providing visitors with a free artist-led tour of the current exhibition, followed by tea and refreshments. With thirty artist-members, Archway Gallery is THE destination in the Houston area for affordable art directly from the artist. For more information, visit ArchwayGallery.com or call 713.522.2409. Like Archway Gallery on Facebook.