Mel Sobi Zadeh

Mel Sobi Zadeh (any pronouns/هو/هي/او) is a queer Mandaean artist and genocide survivor from the southern border of Iran and Iraq, forcibly exiled across lands and waters to Turtle Island. Currently based in New Orleans, Mel’s spirit exists in the gray, where boundaries blur and multiple truths exist at once. For Mel, art is a ritual of the dead and displaced — summoning the forgotten souls buried beneath the water.

Colorful art piece in purple, red, black, green and white with watermelon motif and Arabic text, representing Mel Sobi Zadeh's visual art.

Visual Art

A handwritten poem in Arabic written with black pen on off-white lined paper, representing Mel Sobi Zadeh's writing.

Writing

Mel wearing a brown patterned dress and blue headscarf posing on the ground on a rocky, sandy surface, representing their performing art.

Performing Art

“We are people of the fire. We are hope.
We are surrounded by darkness.”

Mel Sobi Zadeh
Mel with pink hair wearing a colorful beaded headdress on their face, representing their shop of art prints, stickers and other pieces

Shop

Mel standing on rocky terrain in the desert with arms raised and crossed above their head, wearing a brown patterned garment and blue headscarf.

Support

Mel with black curly hair wearing a colorful knitted sweater and jewellery smiles while sitting in front of and eating a spoonful of Knafeh and Turkish Ice Cream with crushed pistachio on top.

Contact