50 Over 50: Every Step Forward Is Meaningful - Maryam Rohani Vakili's Behind Closed Doors

At 51, Maryam Rohani Vakili is exploring the symbolism of Iranian doors and knockers in increasingly abstract ways. They've been experimenting with layering, texture, and color, especially red and turquoise, to express the tension between memory, silence, and identity. The studio feels vibrant and alive with this dialogue between tradition and contemporary abstraction.

They're also deeply engaged with a smaller ongoing project, Care & Share, where they create tiny traditional ceramic shoes. These pieces are rooted in memories of poverty in Iran and reflect on the children who grow up with limited resources and opportunities. Bringing these shoes into their practice has introduced a more emotional and humanitarian dimension to their work, reminding them why storytelling through art is so important.

Their work is dramatically different from what it was before they turned 50. They began with drawing, then moved into hard-edge abstraction in their late forties. Over time, they found themselves drawn to combining abstraction with representational imagery and eventually expanding into ceramics. Last year, they learned sculpture and began creating doors and stairs as three-dimensional extensions of their paintings. Reaching 50 didn't limit their practice—it opened it up, allowing them to explore new materials, new forms, and a much deeper connection to their stories and heritage.

What's actually hard about being an artist at this point? They started their artistic journey later than many, so they often feel like they're running to catch up, especially when they're surrounded by younger artists who effortlessly navigate new technologies, digital platforms, and the fast-paced ways art is promoted today. It can feel intimidating to enter a field where others seem to have a significant head start, not just in skill but also in visibility.

At the same time, balancing family responsibilities with the demands of creative work is its own struggle. Art requires time, emotional space, and deep focus, yet family life requires presence, care, and consistency. Managing both worlds, without letting one overshadow the other, can be exhausting. There are days when inspiration is there, but time isn't. And there are days when time is available, but their mind is too fragmented to create.

Someone just turned 50 and wants to start making art—what do they tell them? Absolutely, they encourage anyone to start making art at 50 (or at any age). Beginning later in life can be an advantage because you bring a lifetime of experiences, perspective, and insight into your work. You may see the world differently, discover new sides of yourself, and find your own unique voice. Yes, there will be obstacles—technical challenges, self-doubt, or navigating the art world—but each challenge comes with valuable experience and motivation. The process of creating art can be enriching, not just for the finished work, but for the growth, reflection, and joy it brings along the way. It's never too late to begin, and every step forward is meaningful.

Do they try to keep up with what matters in the art world? They don't focus on trends for their own sake, but they do try to stay aware of what's happening in the world. Their art is meant to communicate with people and reveal reality through metaphorical beauty, rather than harshness. They pay attention to both local and international issues—climate change, hunger, poverty, and social inequality—and these realities inform and inspire their work.

What do artists their age bring to the table that younger artists don't? A depth of life experience and perspective that younger artists are still developing. They have lived through different social, cultural, and political moments, and that history informs the stories they tell through their work. They often take more time to reflect, experiment, and refine their ideas, which can result in art that is layered, thoughtful, and resonant. Additionally, navigating challenges over time—both personal and professional—gives them resilience and a sense of purpose that can enrich their creative voice.

What are they working on next? Behind Closed Doors, a series that transforms Iranian doors and knockers into metaphors for both protection and confinement. Through painting, sculpture, and ceramics, they explore how silence, memory, and gender shape identity, revealing the untold stories hidden behind everyday structures. The work reflects on tradition, inequality, and the subtle tensions of life, inviting viewers to consider what is preserved, what is concealed, and what remains unspoken.

What keeps them going when everything feels impossible? They've faced many obstacles in their life, from growing up in Tehran, surviving a young abusive marriage, to navigating a miraculous migration to the United States, and spending eleven years battling chronic illness while pursuing their art. Through these experiences, they've learned the hard way that even in the darkest moments, motivation and perseverance are essential. They push themselves to keep going, to create, and to reach for the light, trusting that persistence can transform struggle into growth and artistic expression.

What do they wish they'd known when they were younger? They wish they had started this journey much earlier in life, before responsibilities and obligations made it harder to dedicate uninterrupted time to their art. When they were younger, they didn't fully realize how essential it is to create consistently, to observe the world with curiosity, and to let experiences shape your work. Art requires patience, attention, and the freedom to explore ideas deeply, and they often think about how starting earlier would have allowed them to develop their voice more fully, experiment more fearlessly, and engage with the world more attentively and intentionally. Yet, even with a later start, the experiences they've had have given their work a depth and perspective that they might not have gained otherwise.

Creating art after 50 presents unique challenges and rewards. At their age, many artists are already established, with their studios, networks, and a clear path in the art world. They recently completed their master's this spring, and finding their way into the broader artistic community is not easy. Yet starting at this stage also gives them a fresh perspective, resilience, and a deep commitment to their practice. Every step, though sometimes slower or more complex, feels purposeful, and the journey itself continues to shape both their work and their artistic voice.

Maryam Rohani Vakili is an Iranian American visual artist who explores themes such as resilience, cultural identity, memory, and social justice. Their artistic journey began in 1999, following their immigration to the United States. While adjusting to a new life and raising a family brought joy, their deeper calling for creative expression emerged later, following a life-altering diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Forced to leave their previous career, they enrolled in an art class, an experience that ignited a passion for painting and ultimately transformed their life.

Their practice now includes painting, ceramics, and sculpture, each medium enriching the others and allowing them to tell complex, layered stories. Their work draws deeply from Iranian cultural traditions, personal memories, and everyday objects. Symbolic motifs, such as shoes and architectural forms, appear in their ceramic sculptures and paintings as visual metaphors for displacement, poverty, gender inequality, and the silencing of marginalized voices.

They hold a Master of Arts in Visual Arts from California State University, Northridge. Through their evolving body of work, they are committed to preserving cultural memory, fostering inclusivity, and empowering underrepresented communities.

At 51, they're exploring Iranian doors and knockers. Red and turquoise. Memory, silence, and identity. Tiny ceramic shoes rooted in memories of poverty. Behind Closed Doors—metaphors for both protection and confinement.

It's never too late to begin. Every step forward is meaningful.

Connect with Maryam: Website: maryamvakili.com Instagram: @artbymaryam25

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