A talented, vibrant and wholly original artist, Neda Doany's expressive art bursts energetically through her paintings, collages and ceramic tiles.

Neda grew up in Beirut, Lebanon, a Mediterranean city known through the ages as a significant cultural center and a hub of Asian, European, and North African influences. Nowadays, she resides with her family in the sunny, eclectic city of Austin, Texas, where she hones her skills as a self-taught visual artist.

With her varied intellectual interests (Neda has a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Language, and degrees in sociology and communications) and her rich cultural heritage, her signature style displays an interesting mixture of Eastern sensibility and Western practicality.

Of her varied artwork, Neda says: "My first public exhibition was held in 1998 at The Third Street Ceramic Gallery, Austin, Texas. The exhibit, entitled 'The Whole Nine Months,' showcased my handmade tile paintings. The show's inspiration grew from a series of collages I had created as a gift to my husband and my yet-unborn son. The collages chronicled the elation, fear, and ultimate wonder of bringing a child into the world and becoming a parent."

"I discovered ceramic painting through a workshop with world-renown artist, Marian Haigh, and I was thrilled to be able to translate my collage art into paintings on ceramic tiles. Ceramic underglaze painting involves the use of metal oxides painted on bisque tiles and fired. Because of the whimsical nature of this medium, every painting on tile becomes an adventure. The glaze and firing transform the painting into a thrilling surprise."

"The ceramics experience re-ignited my deep passion for the visual arts. Although I was never formally trained as an artist, I have always had a keen interest in painting. For me, art is a form of play. To play is to create and to re-invent reality. For me, "to live is to create."

Some of Neda's exhibits and workshops include: