Mia Rassam is a figurative artist based in California. She is dedicated to exploring humanity through figuration with a focus on feminist theory. Rassam’s current work analyses the interactions between body autonomy, historical representations of women, and personal identity. Through self-portraiture, material, and text, Rassam seeks to critically examine the oppressive forces embedded within social institutions that shape her female experience, often finding parallels in her reality to those of the women in art history. Her greatest sources of inspiration lie among the works of Artemisia Gentileschi, Hilma af Klint, Leonora Carrington, Suzanne Valedon, and Frida Kahlo. Rassam aims to address the persistent mistreatment of the female body and mind, constructing metaphors that highlight resilience and strength. Leveraging narrative scenes and autobiographical elements, Rassam’s work confronts her personal experiences with objectification and gender discrimination while providing moments of levity and hope.

Rassam graduated from the University of California, Davis in 2024 with a B.A. in Art Studio and a B.A. in Communications. While at UC Davis, Rassam was Lead Director of The Basement Gallery, a student-run gallery within the Art Studio Department. Her awards include an Honorable Mention in the 2025 SFVACC show Surrealism, the Jeffrey Owyang Art Scholarship in 2024, a Citation for Outstanding Performance in 2024, and the UC Davis Undergraduate Studio Award in 2023 and 2024. She currently works in Davis, California.