Houston Office Welcomes Artist Farima Fooladi for March Sweet Talks

​Sweet Talks, which had a kick-off in February, are aimed to provide a platform for discussions with local Houston artists and will shed light on Houston's ongoing rotation of local artists' work on display in its office.

In March, artist Farima Fooladi joined the firm’s Houston office for a discussion of her life and work.  Partner Kevin Davis hosted this March 27 event.

Fooladi is one of the four artists selected for Womble Bond Dickinson’s initial Art & Diversity Initiative, which is curated by Patent Agent Azie Aziz.

Fooladi is a talented visual artist whose work explores themes of displacement, invasion, change and migration. Her unique perspective, shaped by her upbringing and cultural background, has resulted in a truly captivating artistic journey. Her artwork is mainly influenced by her memories of living in Iran and the USA, both cherished and bittersweet, intricately crafted with a blend of influences that range from the details of Persian miniatures to the whimsical wonder of Mark Dion.

In the March Sweet Talk, Fooladi invited us to unpack her artistic journey that is meticulously curated in a cabinet of curiosities.  During this talk, she discussed her creative process including the recurring themes that inspire her artistic journey.  Fooladi said her artistic process can start with an intuitive spark, and then fueled by her immense curiosities, and a willingness to let the outcome surprise even herself.

One recurring theme is the hairpin, an object of femininity that symbolizes both strength and grace. To Fooladi, the hairpin is a personal touch, a guide for her as a woman navigating a world that is constantly changing. Another recurring theme in her work is the rooster.  One reporter once associated the rooster as an embodiment of Iran’s “macho culture,” but the rooster gradually sheds this association, transforming it into a more universal symbol of hope.  

The memories of her displacement from Iran to the USA form another central theme in Fooladi’s artistic journey. Her series, “Displacement,” maps the geographical and emotional distance between her life in Iran and her adopted home in the USA. This displacement, as she described as “instant,” highlights a yearning for a more gradual transition, a chance to taste the journey rather than simply arrive at the destination.  

When asked how art can provide value to law firm professionals, Fooladi responded that making art is a creative process and can benefit professionals at their jobs (e.g., law firms). Professionals can learn from the artistic process because every day, professionals are looking for creative ways to solve problems. Fooladi sees art as a means to ask questions and open up conversations. Fooladi added that art can be used as a creative therapy for stress relief.

Evidently, Fooladi’s artistic journey is more than just a process of transferring some colorful paints onto blank canvases.  Her journey is packed into the cabinet of curiosities curated with personal stories, cultural encounters, displacement, and a profound sense of curiosity.  Fooladi invites us to step into this cabinet of curiosities with an open mind to explore her stories that are waiting to be discovered.