Mariam Tafsiri
Mariam Tafsiri is a British-Iranian illustrator and artist from London. Her work takes inspiration from Qajar art, Persian miniature paintings and Islamic design to create colourful and whimsical modern compositions. Her interest in Qajar art developed at an early age, drawn to the unibrowed women who represented a very different concept of beauty to that regularly portrayed in popular media. She has previously collaborated with companies such as Apple, Kiehl’s and Barbican, including creating Instagram’s first ever stickers to celebrate Nowruz. She will be selling art prints and zines. To learn more about Mariam, please visit her Instagram.
Yaran Women's Club
Yaran Women's Club is a registered charity which provides support to women who suffer from mental health problems. Although Yaran is an inclusive charity which welcomes women from all backgrounds, most of their members are Iranian women. They run activities like yoga and pottery in their club. To learn more about the Yaran Women's Club, please visit their Instagram or their website using the button below.
Nogaam Publishing
Nogaam Publishing, founded in 2012 in London, is an independent award-winning publisher. They publish Persian fiction, non-fiction and multilingual children books. At their 2024 stall, they will offer fiction, non-fiction, bilingual children books and classic poetry books including Hafez and Khayyam, as well as seasonal greeting cards for Nowruz, spring and the Persian new year. For more information about Nogaam, please visit their Instagram or their website using the button below.
Razieh Riazati
Razieh was born in Tehran in 1976. Although she pursued a degree in clinical psychology, her passion for the arts was ever-present. Her journey eventually led her to calligraphy, igniting an enduring fascination with this expressive art form. "Calligraphy feels like a harmonious dance between structure and creativity. Every brushstroke, like words on a canvas, holds boundless meaning." Razieh's works are deeply inspired by the poetry of Victor Hugo, Hafez, Rumi, Saadi, and Sohrab Sepehri. Her paintings spontaneously emerge from this poetic influence, using vibrant acrylic and oil colours to capture profound philosophical themes. She eventually founded Raaz Art, a brand with a name that blends her own name and the Farsi word for "mystery," symbolizing the enigmatic beauty inherent in her creations. Razieh will be bringing her pottery to the Bazaar. To learn more about Razieh and her work, please visit her Instagram.
Mehrdad Aref-Adib
Mehrdad is an Iranian-born, London-based fine artist and illustrator. Mehrdad’s work captures the essence of his dual heritage, weaving together nostalgia, culture, and art with humour. Mehrdad is an important part of the Lauderdale House family and is, for the third year, curating our entire Nowruz Festival. Mehrdad will be bringing his prints and greeting cards to the Bazaar. To learn more about Mehrdad and his work, please visit his Instagram.
Sahar Haghgoo
Sahar is an illustrator and painter originally from Iran and now based in London. Her work explores the concepts of beauty and the sublime, focusing on the interplay between these two ideas. Sahar examines how beauty can evoke pleasure and satisfaction, while the sublime inspired feelings of awe, respect, and even fear. It seems that by drawing and visualizing monsters, Sahar discovers unknown parts of herself, and by shaping them, she also shapes her own existence and nature. Her work is deeply connected to the aesthetics of nature, exploring themes of monsters in nature, the unknown, change and transformation, and the destruction of beauty. Sahar is particularly interested in exploring this contrast through themes of size and proportion, familiarity and unfamiliarity, and the emotional responses they elicit. She often work with different techniques to capture these nuances and create pieces that invite viewers to consider the complex relationship between these seemingly opposing forces. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website using the button below or her Instagram.
Sahar Khaleghi
Sahar is an Iranian artist now based in London and is currently an MA Painting student at the Royal College of Art. Her work passionately addresses the pressing social and cultural concerns of her homeland. Sahar’s art has been exhibited in numerous countries around the world, including the UK, Germany, Estonia, Greece, and China. In 2018, she was honoured with the Special Award at the International Gold Panda Cartoon and Illustration Competition in China. More recently, her work featured prominently at the 52nd Belgrade Golden Pen Illustration Festival and has gained recognition in several international magazines. Having grown up as a young woman in Iran, Sahar has chosen to weave both modern and historical influences into her artistic practice, illuminating the experiences of women across cultures. Through her work, she seeks to convey powerful narratives that transcend borders, speaking to the challenges and triumphs of women worldwide. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her website, her Instagram or her Facebook page.
Sean Naghibi
Sean is a London based web/graphic designer and print specialist who runs a small digital design outfit “Today Design”, with particular interest in history and advertising. He is the curator of 'Souvenirs From The Past', a diverse array of advertisements that graced Iranian media over five transformative decades. From the dawn of modern advertising in the late 1920s, covering 50 years until the late 1970s. This collection highlights the evolution of marketing strategies, artistic trends, and cultural narratives that defined a nation. To learn more about Sean and his book, please visit his website using the button below or visit the 50 Years of Ads Instagram page.
SaharzDesign
Sahar designs and makes contemporary Persian-inspired jewellery, all handmade in her home studio in North London. Each piece is inspired by Persian calligraphy, art, and architecture, making them very unique and special. She will have a selection of Persian-inspired handmade polymer clay jewellery for both adults and children as well as some Nowruz greeting cards available. To learn more about Sahar and her work, please visit her Instagram or her website using the button below.
Afghanistan and Central Asian Association
The Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) is an award-winning charity based in Hounslow dedicated to the integration and empowerment of refugees and asylum seekers, with a heightened focus on the diaspora from Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries. They will highlight ACAA's work with the community, including through the celebration of Nowruz, at our Bazaar. They will also set out a Nowruz table with key features representing Nowruz in Afghanistan, selling saffron tea and Afghan sweets like gosh-e-fil.
To learn more about the ACAA and their work, please visit their website using the button below or check out their Facebook page, their LinkedIn or their Instagram page.
Farin Pottery
Farin Pottery brings you lovingly hand-built ceramics by full-time journalist and passionate potter Farin Assemi. Joining us on 14 and 15 March, Farin will have some Haftsin sets, candle holders and practical pieces. To learn more about Farin Pottery, please visit Farin's Etsy page using the button below or check out her Instagram page.
Ava and Azar
Ava & Azar is a jewellery brand creating one-of-a-kind handcrafted statement pieces inspired by Persian heritage and timeless design. Each piece blends bold geometric forms with refined craftsmanship, resulting in distinctive jewellery that feels both modern and heirloom-worthy. Soophia is delighted to be returning to the Nowruz Bazaar at Lauderdale House for the third year running, and to once again share her latest collection in celebration of the Persian New Year. To learn more about Ava and Azar, please visit the Ava and Azar website using the button below or check out the Instagram page.
SHB Studio
Shabnam Bagheri is a UK-based ceramic jewellery designer and maker working under her independent studio, SHB Studio. Her practice focuses on creating handcrafted ceramic jewellery that combines traditional making techniques with contemporary design. With a background in Fine Arts and Graphic Design, Shabnam approaches jewellery through a contemporary design lens, focusing on form, surface, and material. Ceramic is her primary material, valued for its tactile quality, organic character, and expressive surface potential. She combines ceramics with metal elements such as sterling silver and brass, as well as beads and mixed materials, to create balanced and distinctive pieces. Nature plays a central role in her work. Botanical forms, seeds, textures, and natural colour transitions are translated into ceramic pendants and beads through hand-shaping, glazing, and controlled firing processes. Each piece is finished and assembled by hand, resulting in jewellery that is unique, slow-made, and personal. To learn more about Shabnam and her work, please visit her Instagram or her website using the button below.
Alef Books
Alef Books is a London-based online bookstore and a growing hub for promoting the Persian language and culture among young children. Alongside a carefully curated collection of high-quality Persian children’s books, Alef Books offers creative Persian-language parent–toddler sessions and children’s workshops in London. At the Nowruz Bazaar, Alef Books will showcase beautifully illustrated Persian children’s books, bilingual English–Persian titles, and English translations of Persian stories—perfect for meaningful Nowruz gifts or introducing children to the Persian language and heritage. Visit the Alef Books stall to discover beautiful books or visit their website using the button below or check out their Instagram page.
