Grad student blends digital with fine art

Most fine arts students dread completing the thesis that is
required for graduation. But Amir Fallah, a graduate art student,
saw it as an opportunity for him to further refine his unique
approach to bridging the gap between fine art and graphic
design.

“In the grad program at UCLA, you don’t have to
write a long explanation or researched proposal about art.
Everything is encompassed in the pieces and complemented by a
proposed artistic statement,” Fallah said.

After three years of study in the painting department, Fallah
will receive his master’s degree. Fallah’s work was
displayed at UCLA for his MFA thesis project, which consisted of a
written thesis and complementary art.

Fallah’s thesis project explored the possibility of
combining graphic design and painting while pushing the boundaries
of visual space.

“My notebook doodles evolve into paintings,” said
Fallah. “My style of work is a mixture of abstraction:
pattern making mixed with surrealism.”

While painting, Fallah draws inspiration from his strong graphic
design background, including his studies in advertising design.

“Graphic design is, to me, a digital illustration,”
Fallah said. “Painting is a slower process of image
making.”

Fallah’s inspiration for work is past artists; he
continually references art history. He also pulls from everyday pop
culture and graphic design.

“I draw from everything around me, especially the social
aspects of latent designs in society,” Fallah said.

To celebrate art, Fallah founded “Beautiful/Decay”
magazine when he was 16 years old and has transformed this project
from a nebulous objective to an internationally distributed
publication.

He currently lives and works in Los Angeles, and will continue
to keep this bright city as his muse: He plans to rent office space
downtown for his magazine. Magazine work will serve as his primary
duty and source of income while he develops exhibits on the
side.

In late August, Fallah will be presenting a solo show in Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, centering around a mural conception. The
installation will include a freshly composed wall painting that
will be painted only days before the exhibit, as well as a series
of previously painted canvases.

The UCLA graduate art program’s format enabled Fallah to
explore many outlets for creation. The program allows the students
to explore their artistic pursuits freely and passionately. The MFA
program emphasizes exploration and experimentation for the
developing artists.

Maximum time is allowed for independent studio work, enabling
students to work intimately with faculty members. Each student is
encouraged to spend time in the studio and work through many
artistic genres.

“Teachers observe you work and the artist is basically
left alone to discover,” Fallah said. “It is similar to
after graduation. It has a real-world feel.”

This guided independence facilitates encouraging and meaningful
interactions with professors.

Not only do instructors motivate remarkable breakthroughs, but
they also open the doorways to showcase such innovation by
introducing students to the right people in the gallery scene.

Because many professors are world-renowned artists, students
have the opportunity to apprentice under faculty while they are
exhibiting their shows.

“It is a transition from the academic world to the real
art world ““ to the gallery scene,” Fallah said.

Fallah learns more about himself through each project he
completes.

“Work leads to more work,” Fallah said. “The
more you learn about yourself, the more you can grow.”