Katy Kianush Wallace NAPA

Katy Kianush-Wallace is an Iranian-born British artist who has lived in the United Kingdom for over five decades. She began painting at an early age, with her first illustrations published in Iran at just ten years old.

Her work reflects a rich synthesis of cultural traditions, drawing on Persian, Japanese, and Chinese painting styles. Her subjects include miniatures, symbolism, figurative work, portraiture, landscapes, and wildlife. Her paintings are known for their intricate detail, refined technique, and a poetic sensibility that bridges visual art and literary expression.

Katy has exhibited widely, including solo exhibitions at the Wyvern Theatre and Arts Centre in Swindon. Her earlier work in Persian and Japanese miniatures was also exhibited at the BBC World Service. Her paintings have appeared in publications such as Closed Circuit by Shadab Vajdi (Forest Books, UK), and As Long as the Moon Shall Rise (Holy Cow! Press, USA).

A longstanding member of the National Acrylic Painters Association (NAPA), Katy has made significant contributions to the organisation. As a member of its Executive Council, she directed and coordinated NAPA’s inaugural London exhibition at the Westminster Gallery in 1999. She has also received several awards at NAPA exhibitions, including the Royal Sovereign (Rembrandt) Award (1998), the Daler-Rowney International Award (1999), and the Artists and Illustrators Award (2002).

Following a serious car accident in 2004 and subsequent surgeries, Katy was unable to paint for several years. During this time, she turned to poetry and explored healing through nature, yoga, and meditation, experiences that have deepened the contemplative dimension of her work.

Today, Katy continues to develop her artistic and literary practice through painting, poetry, and digital curation on the Art Arena platform, where she also preserves and promotes the legacy of her parents, the poet and artist Mahmud Kianush and the writer Pari Mansouri.

For a full biography and portfolio, please visit:
https://art-arena.com/katy-kianush/biography/