Golnoosh Pourshahid is an Iranian-Canadian acrylic artist based in Toronto. She holds a Master’s degree in Human–Computer Interaction from the University of Toronto and has spent more than two decades working in human-centred design, shaping digital experiences through empathy, emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of how people connect with stories. This sensitivity now forms the foundation of her artistic practice.

Her paintings emerge from her ongoing journey of healing, transformation, and presence. At the heart of her work is Aya’s Gift, a deeply personal and symbolic series that captures the many moments within a healing journey—emotional release, self-reflection, softness, and the quiet inner shifts that slowly reshape a person from within. Through surreal heart-headed figures, symbolic objects, and vivid, emotive colour palettes, the series gives visual form to the layered process of returning to oneself.

Her second series, Where I Stand, is rooted in her travels—sometimes depicting scenes from her own vantage point, and other times capturing the places themselves. Whether showing her back facing a horizon or focusing solely on landscapes and architectural moments, the series reflects grounding, reflection, and the meaning we find in the places that stay with us.

Her third series, Contagion of Joy, celebrates the power of laughter and emotional connection. Created during the isolation of the COVID years, the series was born from a desire to amplify joy and remind others of the light that still moves between people.

Across all her work, Golnoosh uses expressive symbolism, layered textures, and bold, emotive palettes to translate internal landscapes into visual stories. Her paintings invite viewers to pause, breathe, and reconnect with their own emotional truth—meeting themselves with honesty, compassion, and possibility.