Sara Nejad is a Brisbane-based artist whose practice spans painting, mixed media, pyrography (wood burning) and installation. Born in Iran, and having lived and travelled all over the world, Sara’s work draws on various cultural influences and experiences. As Artist in Residence, she transformed Museum of Brisbane’s entrance with vibrant designs that reflect different facets of her identity. Her works use the mandala as a motif to explore themes of belonging, connection and self-transformation.
Sara also engaged with local communities during her residency. She facilitated a series of workshops, gently encouraging participants to reflect on their experiences of belonging, love and loss. Over several months, she collected images shared by the participants to create a series of contemporary mandalas. The designs of these mandalas draw on a variety of influences, including the floor mosaic in the Brisbane City Hall foyer, the stained glass windows at Saint Stephen’s Cathedral, as well as the architecture of Persian palaces and mosques. Shaped by shared stories and personal reflections, the mandalas bring the spirit of Brisbane’s diverse communities to life.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this project:
Jade Craft; Rebekah Evans; Farshad Farhadieh; Jayshree Gohil; Natalie Haanwinckel Hurtado; Maryam Kalantary; Peymaan Niknazar; Mangalam Sankupellay; Dulcie Stewart; Ata Tara; and Ramanan Thiyagarajan.
MoB’s Artist in Residence program is supported by Tim Fairfax AC.
This residency has been produced by Museum of Brisbane as part of Brisbane City Council’s BrisAsia Festival 2025, produced by Sounds Across Oceans.
