Yuji Mostafavee creates large acrylic paintings of edenic environments that offer a much-needed escape from the artificial milieu of city life. Every year, Mostafavee would travel to Mexico for a few months to get a taste of tropical paradise. During the Covid pandemic, she decided to recreate her personal exotic sanctuary with a collection of vibrantly colored paintings featuring lush vegetation and wildlife. A former fashion designer, Mostafavee is heavily influenced by haute couture, keeping up with contemporary trends and patterns. Harnessing Mostafavee’s expert handling of color and compositions, her designs exude the sophisticated glamor of a Chanel purse or a Hermès scarf. They recreate exclusive ambiances where the viewer can indulge in a bit of forbidden luxury.
As an undergraduate, Mostafavee studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design in New York and architecture and interior design at Waseda University in Tokyo. She earned a Master’s in Fashion Design and Fashion Marketing at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea. When working in fashion, she designed John Varvatos and Ralph Lauren collections and creative presentations, and was involved in award-winning exhibitions and fairs in New York, Hong Kong, and Japan. Mostafavee works and lives in New York City.
YUJI MOSTAFAVEE ON
Light Cycles Part I. Germination, 2024
I adapt concepts and forms from different art historical periods into a contemporary aesthetic. As a previous fashion designer, my colors, motifs, and compositions are inspired by the world of haute couture, in particular Hermes and Chanel. As if forging a one-of-a-kind garment collection, I create enticing patterns of strong chromatic contrasts where the eye can swim with selfindulgent pleasure. My goal is to develop a new artistic concept each year.
