Arash Afshar, a seasoned artist, photographer, music video director, and media/podcast host, has dedicated nearly two decades to illuminating the intricacies of the identity and purpose through his art. With a unique perspective shaped by his immigrant experience and diverse cultural influences, Arash utilizes the power of storytelling to inspire connections and foster a deeper understanding of the vibrant tapestry of culture.
Extended Bio
Arash’s photography blends documentary and cinema, producing stories that juxtapose the aesthetic grandeur of blockbusters with the intimacy of indie films. Drawing inspiration more from music producers and film directors than traditional photographers, he balances authentic photojournalistic portraiture with a polish from his years of professional work in lifestyle, tourism and marketing photography. This unique style is anchored by themes of leadership and power, shaped by experiences both within governmental structures and the countercultural arts movements, coupled with a deep fascination with purpose and civic duty.
His immigrant roots, juxtaposing traditional Iranian values with vibrant artistic subcultures, have forged a distinctive lens through which he views the world. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University, Arash honed his craft by navigating between photography campaigns for San Diego’s Unified Port District and other local governmental and nonprofit entities by day while directing underground hip-hop music videos by night. This duality refined his narrative capabilities, as evidenced in his diverse projects across local and global destinations, working with entities ranging from official bodies to avant-garde artists and musicians.
After dedicating years to still photography for marketing and communication agencies, Arash revisited the music video realm, teaming up with Techno DJ/Producer Crescendoll for her song, Chasing Rabbits. Concurrently, his voice has resonated as the host of Burner Podcast, delving deep into the Burning Man culture for almost a decade, establishing it as the longest-standing traditional podcast in the global Burner community. His dedication to this ethos is further exemplified through leadership roles in art initiatives and the inception of Justified Hype, a platform which championed diverse voices within San Diego's underground dance music and creative spheres. He is currently focused on producing his first photography book, featuring a decade retrospective of images and themes.
In addition to his photography, Arash is delving into the literary realm, penning the philosophical memoir titled “Yesterday I Was Clever” where he is dissecting the nature of identity through his Iranian-American upbringing and 'coming out' as an Artist. Simultaneously, he is in the early stages of founding a nonprofit that will serve as the activist wing of his artistic endeavors, turning his creative insights into tangible actions for change.
Although he remains deeply rooted in Southern California, his fervent passion for storytelling takes him to diverse locales, capturing and chronicling his experiences. He splits his time between San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas and can most often be found at a local coffee shop when not on photoshoots or in podcasting studios. On the rare occasion where he takes a day off, you might find him on urban hikes exploring San Francisco, Austin or New York.
For booking and inquiries please contact Patrick Dylan Riley at Proper Concept
