ROOTS

On a crisp spring day in Tehran, the city’s architecture comes alive under the soft golden light. The scent of saffron drifts through the air as you wander past intricate tilework, where gorgeous mosaics shimmer against the historic facade of the Golestan Palace. The walls stand out from the clear sky, their geometric patterns telling stories of Persian artistry. In spring, Tehran’s architecture is not just seen—it is felt, resonating with the warmth of the season and the pulse of the city.

ROOTS is a fine art collection aimed at taking the viewer on a journey of growth. The word roots symbolizes growing roots and building a new life, while also referring to one's past. This collection focuses on the growth and development of oneself while not forgetting where they came from. 

The artist Mia Cunningham grew up in California. Her grandfather had immigrated to the US as a teeneager from Tehran, Iran and came and visited her once a week while she was growing up. Because of this relationship with her grandfather she grew up with a close relationship to her Persian heritage. 

Persian culture admires showing off wealth and taste whereas Californian culture admires the opposite. This juxtaposition is demonstrated through the use of fine beading and embroidery techniques against a simple backdrop. 

ROOTS uses symbols and iconography from California and Iran to show the blend of worlds that she grew up around. The saffron flower is an important motif in this collection because much like a person this flower is very delicate. Saffron can only be picked by hand, there is no way to pick it with a machine or else it would be crushed. Bead work inspired by the Golestan Palace is prevalent in this collection, as well as fabric manipulation and embroidery.