Roya Haji Alikhani is an Iranian painter and environmental activist with a Master’s degree in Painting, who developed her artistic career in Iran before recently moving to Canada to continue her work. She began creating art in 2007, exploring oil painting, glass printing, and various printmaking techniques. During her university years in 2010, she grew deeply interested in Surrealism and symbolic narratives, influenced by European artists such as Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí. Her ongoing research in philosophy and psychology led her to focus on trinantropy (human–animal) within contemporary art, inspiring her to create works through both traditional and digital collage. Rooted in her belief that protecting animals is essential to the health of the planet, this theme became central to her artistic identity. From 2016 onward, her artworks were shown in numerous group exhibitions and small auctions across Iranian cities including Isfahan, Tehran, Shiraz, and Yazd, as well as internationally in Baku. Childhood stories and characters had a lasting impact on her imagination and played a fundamental role in shaping her passion for art. After relocating to Canada, Roya aims to continue expanding her artistic practice and plans to establish “Roya Gallery” in the future. Her long-term vision includes supporting orphaned children by offering exclusive painting education and using art as a medium for emotional and social empowerment. Enthusiastic about experimenting with new techniques and electronic materials, she has also introduced some of her works as NFTs and continues to research human–animal relationships with an environmental focus.

My artistic approach is rooted in exploring the relationship between humans, animals, and the environment—an interconnectedness I examine through the concept of trinantropy. In my work, animals are not decorative subjects; they exist as conscious, symbolic presences whose survival is directly tied to the well-being of the planet. For this reason, they appear in my artworks through surreal narratives, metaphors, and symbolic forms shaped by personal experiences, childhood stories, and my early influences from artists such as Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró.

Research in philosophy and psychology forms a central part of my creative process. These studies guide me toward constructing visual worlds that exist on the threshold between reality and imagination. I express these worlds primarily through traditional and digital collage—a deliberate choice, as collage allows for the creation of layered, fragmented, yet meaningful spaces that mirror the complex and fragile relationship between humans and nature.

After moving from Iran to Canada, my artistic perspective has grown toward engaging with global environmental concerns, as well as themes of displacement, belonging, and contemporary coexistence. I continue to explore new methods, electronic materials, and emerging formats such as NFTs as part of my evolving visual language. For me, art is a way to amplify the voices of animals and to support those who need care and protection—especially children. It is both a personal journey and a commitment to social and ecological awareness.