Mitra Samavaki
Mitra Samavaki (she/her) is an Iranian visual artist currently based in Calgary, Canada. She holds a BFA in sculpture from Tehran University of Art and has recently completed her Master of Fine Arts in photography from the University of Calgary. Mitra practices art mainly through photography, occasionally incorporating installation and video elements. Photography, for her, is not only a journey of self-exploration but also a bridge that intimately connects her with people and her surrounding environment. Having relocated to Canada in 2021, Mitra’s current artistic practices are deeply rooted in the themes of home, identity, and belonging. Her work is mostly inspired by her own experience as an immigrant living between two homelands.
With a 10-year career as a photojournalist, she worked with various news agencies, newspapers, and magazines in Iran. This experience fueled her passion for storytelling and emphasized her belief in the power of photography to raise awareness and create a meaningful impact.
Mitra’s work has been presented in exhibitions at venues such as Contemporary Calgary, +15 Galleries, Nickle Galleries, the Art Gallery of Alberta, The Alberta Society of Artists, the Calgary Central Library, and Wild Skies Art Gallery. She has been awarded an Alberta Foundation for the Arts Graduate Scholarship and has received the 2023 InFocus Photo Emerging Photographer Award.
Beyond her individual artistic pursuits, She is also the founder and owner of “Tiny-Gift,” an Instagram page that emerged during the pandemic to support Iranian independent artists, designers, and makers. This platform showcases and promotes their art and products, fostering connections with potential buyers. Over time, Tiny-Gift has transformed into an inspirational space, encouraging art enthusiasts to turn their passion into a business. Through this platform, Mitra’s overarching goal is to showcase the rich Persian culture on a global scale.
Additionally, last year, in collaboration with her husband, she founded Nomadic Studio. Driven by a shared passion for storytelling through photography, their objective is to create lasting visual narratives that capture the essence and emotion of special moments, turning them into treasured memories.
