Shamsi Ashti

Poet and Sculptor
Poet and Sculptor

Shamsi Ashti stands for everything her represents in her native language, Persian. Ashti means peace in the context of tranquility and rejuvenated friendship.

Shamsi spent most of her childhood in a tranquil family garden in northern Tehran, just beneath the majestic hills and range of the Alborz Mountain, which are covered in snow in winters and around by native yellow and red tulips and other wildflowers in springs. Among her colourful childhood memories in the garden are those of chasing grasshoppers and butterflies, swimming with Sarasa goldfish in their mountain spring pool and climbing mulberry trees.

Her dad, a former high court judge, chose a secluded life with his family focusing on his children’s upbringing. He instilled in them a love for poetry – he taught them to recite verses of classic Iranian poets. He encouraged their curiosity through games and fostered their curiosity by providing ample poetry books around the house. This support was foundational – and Shamsi wrote her first poems as a child.

Poetry gave Shamsi a tool to express her feelings and that of her countrymen. After the 1978 Iranian Revolution, Shamsi was more inspired than ever talk about the daily struggles of everyday Iranians.

Her poetry books encompass Shamsi’s reflections about interpersonal relationships and her feelings about the turbulent sociopolitical situation since the emergence of the Islamic Repulic.

Besides being a poet, Shami is also an accomplished sculptor. Her works of art have been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, the Gallery and the Golestan Gallery and many private exhibitions in Tehran,

Here in Vancouver, her work has been featured in Open Doors Richmond, ArtRich, Canadian Federation of Artists, and many others.

She teaches sculpting classes through the Richmond Art Gallery and working on large scale sculpting projects aimed at creating meaningful/impactful city art.

February 3, 2025