Maje Motalebi, born in 1985 in Tehran, is a writer, translator, and painter, widely recognized for her distinguished contributions to contemporary art and literature. With over two decades of creative endeavor, Motalebi has become one of the leading artistic figures in the fields of visual arts and painting. Her work transcends cultural and artistic boundaries, showcasing a unique and innovative approach. Although she maintains a private personal and artistic life. Her academic journey has taken her through some of the most prestigious institutions, including Lotus College in London (Art and Design), Canadian University (Technical Graphic Design), St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts in Russia (Fine Arts), and Fine Arts academies in Carrara and Bari in Italy, where she refined her skills in painting, visual arts, and sculpture.
Internationally recognized for her exceptional achievements, Motalebi has garnered several prestigious awards, including:
- Special Prize for Poetry & Originality, Athena Spazio Arte, Italy, 2011
- Special Prize Amore e Pace for Poetry & Fiction, Athena Spazio Arte, Italy, 2012
- UNESCO Award Zervas Art for the book L’avalanch des mots, Greece, 2016
- UNESCO Award Zervas Art for the book The Trappist, Russia, 2017
- Golden Eagle Seal Award for the book Wise Animals 2, USA, 2022
Her paintings have been exhibited at numerous prestigious galleries and festivals across Europe, including Italy and France, receiving widespread acclaim. Key exhibitions include:
- Solo Painting Exhibition, Maria Miceli Museum, Suvereto, Italy, 2014
- Solo Painting Exhibition, Galleria San Martino, Suvereto, Italy, 2016
- Group Exhibition, Galleria360 Arte Contemporanea, Florence, Italy, 2019
- Solo Painting Exhibition, Diogen Pro Kultura, Rome, Italy, 2021
- Solo Painting Exhibition, The Orange Tree Galerie, Bargemon Seillans, France, 2023
- Solo Painting Exhibition, Galerie d’arte Carré d’artistes Dôme, Alsace, France, 2024
Motalebi’s art employs nudity as a powerful artistic tool, aimed at redefining and normalizing the female body, striving to eliminate gendered perceptions. Throughout history, nudity in art has been a complex and often controversial subject. In many cultures, the human body particularly the female body has been imbued with various meanings, frequently sexualized. This restrictive view not only reduces women to mere physical objects but also positions them under a male, sexualized gaze. In contrast, Motalebi’s representation of the female body is not sexualized but instead used as a symbol of freedom, independence, and authenticity. She portrays the female body as a natural, human truth that should not be subjected to gendered judgment. In her works, nude female bodies break free from sexualization and societal norms, existing independently and freely in spaces that are devoid of any degrading or objectifying gaze. Motalebi’s approach liberates the female body from the cultural and societal constraints that have historically seen it solely through a gendered, commercial lens. In her paintings, nudity is presented as part of the natural human condition free from sexual or intentional connotations. This perspective subtly reminds the viewer that the female body, just like the male body, is a natural phenomenon, unbound by gendered norms constructed by patriarchal societies.
Maje’s ability to fuse traditional Iranian art with modern abstraction has captivated audiences and fostered dialogue across cultures and geographic boundaries. Her art is a vibrant blend of Iranian heritage and European modernist abstraction, known for its poetic forms, rich colors, and evocative imagery. Her works explore themes of identity, tradition, and cultural intersection, while also powerfully depicting the struggles, triumphs, and empowerment of women. Her narratives promote justice and resilience, conveying the strength of female identity through compelling visual stories. As a writer and translator, Motalebi has published over seventeen books in Iran, France, and the United States, with several titles now in their third edition. Motalebi has collaborated with renowned illustrators such as Kambiz Derambakhsh, Andrea Pecchia and Julian Semiao, producing joint works. Her literary achievements serve as a bridge between Iranian tradition and universal themes, with her translations introducing Persian-speaking audiences to diverse global literary voices. This demonstrates her deep commitment to fostering cultural exchange through language.