Mahsa Merci, born in Tehran, Iran, holds an MFA from the University of Manitoba, Canada, and currently lives and works in Toronto, Ontario. Merci is a queer artist whose work spans various media, with a focus on painting and sculpture. In her work, Merci aims to capture the unique queer journeys of individuals, from the moment of self-realization to navigating the myriad challenges of acceptance and self-expres- sion. Central to her exploration is the duality of identity – the interplay between public personas and private struggles, and the conscious and unconscious aspects of being. Currently, she is delving deeper into the complexities of this dual existence, experimenting with highly textured oil colors on board and incorporating various mediums into her sculptures. Merci has exhibited her works in over forty solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Italy, Germany, UAE, Belgium, Cyprus, Canada, Hong Kong, and Iran. Her works have been published in various well-known magazines globally. Merci was shortlisted for the 5 Rising Painters to Discover in 2022 by Artsy.