A Life Made from Mud

Born in Tehran Iran, Mahjoubeh attended the University of Tehran for two years and later the college of Arts and Technology in Newcastle Upon Tyne, in England. Upon returning to Iran, she began her journey to pottery in 1990 at the Cultural Heritage Organisation with Ostad Mehri, who served as a major influence in her life.

He inspired her with traditional forms and shapes of ancient pottery, as she began exploring the various possibilities of earthenware. There are no molds or sculptures in her studio; she allows her medium to work its own creative way naturally to a solid state. Pottery is one of the oldest forms of art that takes all four elements of nature, earth, interweaving with water to shape, dry again in the air and then burning in fire to exist forever. A universe that lets the imagination wander and triggers contemplation.

In 1990, she also began calligraphy with Ostad Nezmalolama and became spellbound by combining these forms of art. Mahjoubeh is deeply moved by Persian poetry, especially those of Rumi and Hafez, and often quotes them in her pieces.