Artists Profiles - Neda Mohammadnejad
Persian Calligraphy Artist
A Legacy Written in Ink
Neda’s journey into the world of Persian calligraphy began during her teenage years, inspired by the graceful handwriting of her father and grandfather. What started as a subtle yet lasting admiration soon evolved into a deep and lasting passion for form, beauty, and expression.
Before entering university, she began formal training at a private institute, where she laid the foundations of an art form that would become central to her creative life. Eager to refine her skills, she later studied under the guidance of renowned Iranian calligraphy master Bijan Shirali, whose mentorship profoundly shaped her understanding of the discipline.
Over several years, Neda immersed herself in the art of calligraphy not only to master its technical aspects, but to explore its potential as a visual expression of poetry and meaning. For her, Persian calligraphy is both a refined tradition and a personal, meditative practice. It connects her to the richness of language, literature, and the deep emotional and philosophical truths found in classical texts.
A Fusion of Literature and Aesthetics
For Neda, calligraphy is far more than writing, it is a visual expression of meaning, a poetic craft that gives shape to language and emotion. Her deepening passion for calligraphy naturally drew her into the world of Persian literature, where she began memorising a great number of poems by Iran’s most revered poets.
This immersion sparked a profound connection to her cultural and literary heritage. She continues to find lasting inspiration in the words of Hafez, Saadi, Khayyam, and Rumi, poets whose verses are rich with spiritual depth, philosophical insight, and lyrical beauty. Their poetry frequently appears in her work, inscribed with great care and intention.
Neda’s creative process is shaped not only by the influence of classical and contemporary calligraphy masters, but also by nature, music, and moments of inner stillness bringing together intention and soul in every composition.
Process: Where Intuition Meets Precision
Neda’s creative process begins with great care and reflection, selecting a text that resonates with depth and meaning. She is especially drawn to writings that offer moral insight, timeless wisdom, and emotional richness. Once the text is chosen, she enters an intuitive stage of sketching, shaping, composing and adjusting each curve and stroke until the arrangement finds its most harmonious form. Every piece is a dance between freedom and form, carefully balanced within the principles of Persian calligraphy.
Tools of the Craft: A Timeless Practice
Neda works with the traditional tools of Persian calligraphy, each essential and carefully selected:
Reed pens (Dezfuli and Kheezran bamboo)
Handmade calligraphy ink
Silk-wicked inkwell (davat)
Polished âhâr-o-mahrah paper
Calligrapher’s knife
Leather pad for writing support
These tools, passed down through centuries, lend not only precision but a connection to the past that Neda holds with reverence.
The time it takes to complete a piece varies ranging from a few days to several months, depending on the complexity of the composition. She devotes herself entirely to each line, treating every piece as a unique act of care.
The Scripts: Nastaʿlīq and Shekasteh
Neda primarily works in Nastaʿlīq and Shekasteh Nastaʿlīq, the graceful Iranian scripts that are often referred to as the bride of calligraphy. Their elegance and fluidity lend themselves beautifully to poetic expression.
What makes Persian calligraphy particularly special, she believes, are three things:
Mathematical precision and the golden ratio behind the letterforms
Rhythmic harmony that transcends language, touching even those unfamiliar with Persian
Graphic complexity and creative spatial composition that distinguish it from other calligraphic traditions
Calligraphy as a Meditative Practice
To Neda, calligraphy is a deeply spiritual and emotional experience. The rhythm, patience, and concentration it requires invite a state of near-meditation. There are moments when time stands still, where she becomes so immersed in the flow of ink and meaning that hours pass like seconds. Writing poetry she knows by heart allows her to relive the verses, not just intellectually but emotionally as if dreaming on the page.
A Journey Inward: Her Greatest Achievement
Though Neda has created many calligraphy pieces, taken part in exhibitions, and taught others, she considers her greatest achievement to be the sense of inner peace and awareness her practice has brought her.
Her art is not just for display, it is an inner path, a lifelong journey toward self-understanding and connection. It is this deep, personal transformation that she treasures most.
Currently, Neda is preparing new works for a future exhibition, thoughtfully crafting each piece as an expression of her evolving voice.In sharing her work with the world, she continues the tradition of preserving Persian cultural heritage, offering it to new generations in a language that is as visual as it is poetic.
Advice to Aspiring Calligraphers
Neda believes that Persian calligraphy requires passion, patience, and persistent practice. With these, she says, one can not only master the technical beauty of the art, but also discover its deeper; a process that enriches both skill and a profound sense of peace and fulfilment.
Connect with Neda:
You can find Neda's work on:
Instagram: neda_mohammadnejad2
Facebook: Neda Mohammdi
Linkdin: Neda Mohammadnejad