Lila Mohtadi
lilamohtadi.comLila Mohtadi is an Iranian-American artist graduating from the University of San Francisco. Born and raised in Portland, OR her work is influenced by growing up in an Iranian household while being raised in the U.S. Design has allowed her to discover her true passion for storytelling through print, photography and illustrative work. She mixes minimalism with bold type, color and abstract graphics to challenge expectations and question how identity is seen and understood. Influenced by her interests in nature, fashion, and culture, her design practice also engages with issues of animal rights, cultural awareness, and our understanding of identity.
The Missing Mirror
The Missing Mirror explores identity and intersectionality through the lens of being an
Iranian-American. Feeling caught between two worlds disconnected from language and
cultural understanding living these experiences have led me to ask questions about
identity and belonging. I visually represent this feeling by focusing on symbols of
reflection, mirrors, mosaics, and Farsi lettering to exemplify hidden identities.
Throughout this project I have created three posters that blend visual hierarchy, Persian
and American elements while using broken pieces of mirrors and portraits of myself to
evoke the broader theme of distress, silence, and femininity. Hair is a key visual element,
referencing the Women, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran, while also pointing out the
realities of living as a woman in the U.S. vs. Iran.
The box centered on the table is a symbol of who I am and what has shaped my cultural
identity every day. In addition, these elements and symbols reflect how identity is
complex and messy, which becomes the beauty of who we are in the end. The Missing
Mirror captures an ongoing process of understanding one’s identity and how we are
continually shaped by culture, memory, and place.