Keywan Tafteh, a Russian/Iranian/American artist, refuses to limit himself to a single medium. Using a combination of drawing, painting, collage, photography, video, computing, sculpture, and sound, Tafteh blurs the confines of genre to create sensory and emotional work.

Born in Austria and denied citizenship due to his parents’ refugee status, Tafteh immigrated to the United States as an infant. To this day a complicated cultural identity and questions of origin are foremost in his mind.

His creative process is informed by multiple painful and joyous themes: geographic and cultural displacement, the addiction of a loved one, otherness, technological innovation and the sheer joy of observation. Ancient Persian and Russian folk art resonate with his heritage and are of particular interest to Tafteh. This interest is complicated by the transformation of these formerly tolerant societies to institutionalized homophobia. His work explores this societal shift. In short, he creates art that serves as a coping mechanism while celebrating life.

Tafteh studied at the California College of the Arts, San Francisco, California, and at the ArtCenter College of Design, Pasadena, California. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego, in Studio Arts / Interdisciplinary Computing and the Arts.

He has worked as a case manager to get the unhoused into shelters, been an art handler for major galleries and museums, and is currently doing freelance design work.