MFA 2026 Artists MFA 2026 Artists: Ali Masoumzadeh

About Ali Masoumzadeh

Ali Masoumzadeh is an Iranian born artist whose work is rooted in surreal narratives that alternate between drawing, painting, and sculptural forms. Projects during his MFA studies blend traditional and digital methods that include interactive installations, sculptural drawings, and a graphic novel that explores transformation and the grotesque. With a BFA in Painting from Urmia University, Iran, Ali Masoumzadeh currently holds the prestigious Distinguished Artist Fellowship at UMass Dartmouth. Ali has exhibited his work in both solo and group settings regionally and internationally and has received media recognition for his work in The New Bedford Light, 2023, Arts Illuminated, 2025 and NovumArtis, 2025.

Statement

My work has evolved from narrative, story-telling images into pieces that are increasingly aware, present, and emotionally grounded. Although rooted in fiction, my practice draws heavily from real experiences, feelings, and personal reflections. Many of my works initially appear grotesque, yet they open into layered emotional spaces where empathy remains central. I see drawing and painting as capable of becoming sculptural, and spatially aware. Throughout my MFA, I have pursued this belief by building three-dimensional canvases, merging sculptural forms with painted surfaces, creating an illustrated book meant to be experienced over time, and developing an interactive room composed of rotating panels for my thesis.

This approach has allowed me to see, compose, and build differently, shaping a practice that continues to expand my understanding of form and narrative. My work is in conversation with artists like Picasso, David Hockney, and Goya, yet it is equally informed by figures such as Darvish Khan Esfandiarpour whose Stone Garden stands as a monument to memory, loss, and resilience, and by many contemporary Iranian artists whose influence grounds my connection to home. Through this merging of artistic lineages, I explore themes of war, loss, and cultural identity, forming a bridge between traditions and contemporary experience.

Website: alimasoumzadeh.com