My background is really a mixture of French and Middle Eastern cultures.

I was born in Tehran, Iran. However, my parents are Iraqi, and my mother was educated in Belgium. My first language was Russian. I spoke English with my parents, brother and sister, and spoke English at the American school I attended in Tehran. Basically, I grew up in a very diverse environment, being exposed to numerous languages and cultures.

The French and Middle Eastern cultures are very evident in my paintings. First, my style of painting is influenced greatly by the French Impressionists, and also Matisse. The Middle Eastern influence also is shown, among other things, by my use of ornament and pattern.

I received my B.A. in Fine Arts from Yale University. I also studied painting at the New York Studio School in New York, and in Paris. In addition, I have an M.F.A. in Painting from Indiana University.

I enjoy painting gardens with architecture, and flowers. The Huntington Library in San Marino, California offers a variety of products purchased rights to my paintings of the Library gardens for use in product development in conjunction with the Library’s worldwide efforts to advance the popularity of the Library and its gardens.

I have participated in numerous group shows and exhibited in many galleries, including Michael Kizhner Gallery, E'toiles Gallery, DeVorzon Gallery, Dassin Gallery, Gallery Maxis, and Creative Galleries in Los Angeles, Carman/Brown Gallery in Laguna Beach and Atelier Galerie in Carmel, among others in California.

My paintings are in many collections worldwide, including the U.S., France, England, Australia, Japan and Canada.