For nearly four decades I have applied emerging technologies to classic techniques word, visual art, animation and videogame to give a powerful voice to underdogs and meaningful causes. Presented in reverse chronological order, this portfolio revisits my career through one defining project for every year since 1988.
2026
19 River Rocks, Gold Mica
2024 Art & Propaganda; Their Importance in Movement Building
What is art in relation to propaganda? And in the context of movement building, what is the role of an artist in relation to the changemaker? Guided by the thoughts of Artists/Activists, Artemis Akchoti Shahbazi and I led a workshop at the inaugural conference of the Creative Advocacy Institute.
What is art in relation to propaganda? And in the context of movement building, what is the role of an artist in relation to the changemaker? Guided by the thoughts of Artists/Activists, Artemis Akchoti Shahbazi and I led a workshop at the inaugural conference of the Creative Advocacy Institute.
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"Artistically it is the one fundamental question for us today, Art or Propaganda. Which?Is this more the generation of the prophet or that of the poet; shall our intellectual and cultural leadership preach and exhort or sing? I believe we are at that interesting moment when the prophet becomes the poet and when prophecy becomes the expressive song, the chant of fulfillment." Alain Locke, ART OR PROPAGANDA? 1928
Iran's Supreme Leader 'Makes Hitler Look Good', Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, The Atlantic, April 2018
Adhesive Vinyl on 32 perimeter fence posts of the Los Angeles County Museums, 4 ft. x 16 ft.
2022 What if Len Lye had a Computer
When deconstructing the analog processes developed by the pioneers of early animation, I inevitably find myself reconstructing them using digital technologies, while identifying opportunities to expand, and dare I say, improve them.
Stories about Simorgh, the mythical flying creature, span 5000 years. She is beautiful, with the tail feathers of a peacock that are magical. She is inherently benevolent, able to heal man and to purify nature. And in stories of Sufi mysticism, she is devine.
2015 Interactive Animations for What Makes a Monster? Exhibit
2005, The Leaders Project
This multimedia, interactive, stereoscopic installation is a collaboration with Pamela Joseph and Liliana Mejia.
2004 WKRPinc
Erotic (not pornographrafic) Body parts from Spanish -language, adult comic books collaged and painted, scanned and digitally mirrored across both axis' making a repeatable pattern printed on rolls of wallpaper (recommend for barhrooms.)\
WKRPinc is Wallpaper by Kurosh, Robert Brinker, Pamela Joseph
2003, Sensory Environments Evaluation
For more information: http://ict.usc.edu/projects/sensory_environments_evaluation/
"Sensory Design for Virtual Environments" paper and video for 2003 ACM SIGGRAPH Sketch
Related Paper: "Emotionally Evocative Environments for Training"
2002, Music for the Deaf
This mini music video was created by a collaborative of colleagues at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies. I conceived the idea and created the animation in the inner ear using proprietary software written by Andrew Gardner (who has a cameo as the signer.) Julia Kim shot the live-action footage. David Miraglia was the sound designer, with music provided by MTV.
2001
2000, When Summer Falls
This 3D CG animation is the culmination of my self-guided studies at 7 Los Angeles area schools from 1996-99.
1999
"Does this image slam Aspen for taking its pristine environment for granted? Have we become so twisted? If So, then hats off to the Commercial Core and Lodging Commission, advisors to the City Council, for funding public art that dares bite the hand that feeds it."
1993, Cell
1991 Damned if you Do, Damned if u Don't
"Kurosh is in search of that point where people begin to be outraged by an image or event. His layout for Rita Saint John in Destinations Magazine brought much attention. The genitals of the model were airbrushed smooth. The owners of the airlines found this obscene and did not want the ad to run again."
1990 DADAA (Dead Artists who Dislike Aspen Art)
"Elvis may be dead, but Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali apparently are alive and in good humor in Aspen. The self-titled group DADAA, Dead Artists who Dislike Aspen Art, have claimed responsibility for the hoof-to-helmet draping of the massive artwork. After a successful career in painting, it seems that Picasso and Dali have taken up rhyming verse. "Prompt removal is suggested, for tacky Aspen art can no longer be ingested. So Consider this fair warning, Or we'll steal him piece by piece 'til he's missing one morning." , the note read."
1988 Jealous Dreams of Concrete Angels
Adhesive Vinyl on 32 perimeter fence posts of the Los Angeles County Museums, 4 ft. x 16 ft.
2022 What if Len Lye had a Computer
When deconstructing the analog processes developed by the pioneers of early animation, I inevitably find myself reconstructing them using digital technologies, while identifying opportunities to expand, and dare I say, improve them.
2021 Say My Name, Be My Voice at the Freedom Sculpture
"A few simple acts have transformed this iconic Los Angeles landmark into a living symbol of solidarity with the Iranian people who are fighting for their freedom in Iran. It started with Los Angeles-based artist and activist Kurosh ValaNejad who pasted decals on the base of the Freedom Sculpture that read “SAY MY NAME: MAHSA AMINI, BE MY VOICE.” His act became the seed for an ongoing movement around the monument." Mark Westall, FAD Magazine
Set on rings, the Freedom Sculpture looks like an enormous wedding ring. It functions like one too, as this monumental gift by hyphenated Iranians is also a proposition of fidelity to our newly adopted countries, With no mention of the lack of freedom in Iran, have we also divorced ourselves from our birth country?
. . is a visualization of common triggers and technology of Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) , designed to induce a low-grade euphoria that its viewers may find to be a beneficial therapeutic experience.
silent video, trt: 7 min 5 sec
2018 Gender ID
From crib to coffin, we are put in boxes. At birth, our gender is recorded by checking one of two boxes; male or female. Just out of the womb, we are assigned a lifetime of expectations and limitations. While growing up we see variations in others and in ourselves. This personal sense of gender, our gender identity, forms at the age of 3 and raises the number of options from 2 to 32+. However inclusive and well-meaning, these labels are still confining as they are just more boxes. Look in the box to see the person. Remove the box and they will grow in surprising ways. Sometime the box may feel like a shelter from public scrutiny. Stay there too long, and it will shape you.
For some, it is not enough to think outside the box; They must live there
From crib to coffin, we are put in boxes. At birth, our gender is recorded by checking one of two boxes; male or female. Just out of the womb, we are assigned a lifetime of expectations and limitations. While growing up we see variations in others and in ourselves. This personal sense of gender, our gender identity, forms at the age of 3 and raises the number of options from 2 to 32+. However inclusive and well-meaning, these labels are still confining as they are just more boxes. Look in the box to see the person. Remove the box and they will grow in surprising ways. Sometime the box may feel like a shelter from public scrutiny. Stay there too long, and it will shape you.
For some, it is not enough to think outside the box; They must live there
TRT 5 min 45 sec, Procedurally generated with my Body Scrub device
Duel Citizen, Dual to the Death, TRT 1 min 5 sec, uses my proprietary scratch technnique, and is the proof of concept/study for Simorgh in the 21st Century
During a time when Malcolm X further separated white and black Americas with his harsh indictments, Purifoy smoldering work of art generated empathy by making palpable the frustrations of being black in 60's era America. It is so effective that it shifted my focus from the anthropomorphic objects on the white walls to the white people in attendance, and from then to now. I was surprised to see only 4 Africa-Americans in attendance. It seemed as though LITTLE HAD CHANGED when I realized 3 of them were working.
Morphing illustrations from Ulisse Aldrovandi's 1642 Compendium Monstarorum Historia, my installation suggest that we create monsters, and by doing so, are the real monster.
2014 Interactive Animation at Wonderland Unbound
What Makes a Monster of You?
Interactive Exhibition Banner
Treasure Room, USC Doheny Memorial Library
7' tall x 5' wide x 1" thick glass
Rear Projection Screen
My animation and interactive installation were exhibited at USC Doheny Memorial Library as part of Wonderland Unbound, the 10 yr anniversary celebration of the library’s Lewis Carroll Special Collection
Wise Words (for the Modern Girl)
USC Doheny Memorial Library, LA, CA
Architectural Projection
4 projectors, 200 ft.wide x 50 ft. tall
Total Running Time: 2 min 30 sec.
2013 Coda, Firebird Rising
Firebird Rising is a high-octane musical mash-up of Stravinsky and E.D.M. Spectacular theater, wild circus, awe-inspiring aerial, ballet, and acrobatics take us on a mythic journey of transformation where greed and desire collide in a volatile battle with nature.
Firebird Rising is a high-octane musical mash-up of Stravinsky and E.D.M. Spectacular theater, wild circus, awe-inspiring aerial, ballet, and acrobatics take us on a mythic journey of transformation where greed and desire collide in a volatile battle with nature.
.... is a virtual funhouse mirror that amplifies body language while providing anonymity. This combination of affordances encourages spectators to become the spectacle. Body Scrub, LEGO (pictured) was acquired by The Strong National Museum of Play for their long-term exhibit, Feild of Play.
2011 The Cat and the Coup
"The Cat and the Coup illustrates a path for future docugames: clarity and depth of conscience without sacrificing playability and player interest.”
Tom Auxier, Nightmare Mode
2010, The Night Journey
"...the most genuinely realistic game ever made. It is like life: puzzling, difficult, uncertain, unclear, always seen, in St Paul’s words, through a glass darkly.
Bryan Appleyard, The Sunday Times
I demo-ed the videogame as part of a lecture by Bill Viola at Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village Colorado
2009
2008, FA436: Art and Technology Course
A Multi-disciplinary course at the University of Southern California co-taught by Skip Rizzo from Engineering, Ann Page from Fine Art, and me from Cinematic Arts. I taught Rapid Prototyping and organized the student exhibit.
A Multi-disciplinary course at the University of Southern California co-taught by Skip Rizzo from Engineering, Ann Page from Fine Art, and me from Cinematic Arts. I taught Rapid Prototyping and organized the student exhibit.
"Maybe you want to throw your incumbent representative out of office in the next election. Well it may not be easy, especially if you live in a state where redistricting has lead to ultra-safe seats for incumbents. A group of computer programmers at the University of Southern California developed a videogame to explain the process and show constituents how to win"
Renee Montagne, NPR
2006, Immune Attack
2005, The Leaders Project
2004 WKRPinc
Erotic (not pornographrafic) Body parts from Spanish -language, adult comic books collaged and painted, scanned and digitally mirrored across both axis' making a repeatable pattern printed on rolls of wallpaper (recommend for barhrooms.)\
WKRPinc is Wallpaper by Kurosh, Robert Brinker, Pamela Joseph
2003, Sensory Environments Evaluation
For more information: http://ict.usc.edu/projects/sensory_environments_evaluation/"Sensory Design for Virtual Environments" paper and video for 2003 ACM SIGGRAPH Sketch
Related Paper: "Emotionally Evocative Environments for Training"
2002, Music for the Deaf
This mini music video was created by a collaborative of colleagues at USC's Institute for Creative Technologies. I conceived the idea and created the animation in the inner ear using proprietary software written by Andrew Gardner (who has a cameo as the signer.) Julia Kim shot the live-action footage. David Miraglia was the sound designer, with music provided by MTV.2001
2000, When Summer Falls
This 3D CG animation is the culmination of my self-guided studies at 7 Los Angeles area schools from 1996-99.1999
1998
1997 The Seasons of Aspen Magazine
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| Blue Masking Tape, 6" x 4" Team: Thomas Mooney |
1996 The Aspen Fart Museum
"Art, I'll pass. That's the sentiment espoused by a less-than-vicious vandal who altered a sign over the entrance to the Aspen Art Museum using plastic blue tape. Museum employees awoke Thursday to find that someone had changed the sign to "Aspen Fart Museum." drawing chuckles from passers-by and staffers alike."
"Art, I'll pass. That's the sentiment espoused by a less-than-vicious vandal who altered a sign over the entrance to the Aspen Art Museum using plastic blue tape. Museum employees awoke Thursday to find that someone had changed the sign to "Aspen Fart Museum." drawing chuckles from passers-by and staffers alike."
Kent Smith, Aspen Daily News
1995 Ashen Aspen
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| CMYK Offset Print on Vinyl, 7' x 7' |
"Does this image slam Aspen for taking its pristine environment for granted? Have we become so twisted? If So, then hats off to the Commercial Core and Lodging Commission, advisors to the City Council, for funding public art that dares bite the hand that feeds it."
Art News, Aspen Magazine
1994, Escher Staircase
"Now a work of art, a spiral staircase designed by computer artist Kurosh ValaNejad, features an inlaid lower landing that echoes the curve of the staircase, creating the illusion of ever descending space."
Colorado Homes & Lifestyles Magazine, May 1996
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| Snow, 8' x 8' x 8' Team: Catherine Redfrin, Thomas Mooney |
At the Winterskol snow sculpture contest, Kurosh and his team built a huge HIV virus. It was quite beautiful and won second place in the judging. The irony was that the hole in the side of the snow sculpture was constantly full of children playing. Would you want your child playing with AIDS?"
Aspen Daily News
1992, BBB, BB
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| Black Ink, Silkscreen on Cotton Tshirt |
"ValaNejad's image came as a response to the scathing New York Times Article last month that slammed not only Aspen and the IDCA, but designers in general for losing the sense of social mission the Aspen conference once stood for."
Jane Wilson, Aspen Times
1991 Damned if you Do, Damned if u Don't
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| CMYK Offset Print, 11". x 8.5 |
Jay Magidson, Aspen Daily News
1990 DADAA (Dead Artists who Dislike Aspen Art)
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| Toilet Paper, B&W Xerox, Wire Hanger |
Greg Trinker, Aspen Daily News
,... was made with proprietary 3D CG software in the Amiga lab at Ohio State University.
TRT 1 min 25 sec
1988 Jealous Dreams of Concrete Angels
