Iraqi-born artist gets break with ‘No Borders’
Mhmood Goyani’s art appeared in the March 2025 issue of the The Picayune Magazine. Shortly after, Stephen Jackson reached out to the artist about an exhibit. The ‘No Borders’ exhibit can be viewed starting April 25 at 903 Third St. in Marble Falls. Staff photo by Elizabeth De Los Santos
When local architect Stephen Jackson read an article in The Picayune Magazine about Iraqi-born artist Mhmood Goyani and his challenge of getting his work seen in his new home country, he felt compelled to act.
“Not a lot of opportunity exists for artists to show their work out here,” Jackson told the writer of the March 2025 story. “When I saw (the article), I thought, ‘Well, this guy deserves to be able to show his work.’”
Jackson offered his architectural studio at 903 Third St. in Marble Falls as a gallery space. An opening reception for the exhibit, titled “No Borders,” is Friday, April 25, from 5-8 p.m. “No Borders” will run for 30 days.
Goyani will showcase 33 original paintings alongside a few works by local sculptor Jamie Jo Stein and selected pieces from Jackson himself. It’s Goyani’s his first featured exhibition since arriving in the United States. He and his wife now live in Marble Falls.
“The exhibition is divided into two sections,” Goyani said. “The first section contains the old paintings that I brought with me from Iraq. The second section contains the works I created here in America. I combined them to create a simple image of what I want others to see.”
Among the paintings is a central piece titled “No Borders,” reflecting the artist’s journey from Mosul to Marble Falls.
“The exhibition title comes from (The Picayune Magazine article). … I liked the expression ‘no borders,’ and it applied to my situation, so I painted a painting under this title,” he said. “I think the painting imitates reality in a modern artistic style, mixing realism and modernity.”
Goyani’s work vividly portrays the artist’s transition between two worlds, capturing both challenges and triumphs on canvas.
“My message to the viewer, in general and briefly, is that the artist’s job evolves as they move from one environment to another,” Goyani said. “There are certainly positives and negatives. I try to provide the viewer with these differences and this change.”
Organizing an exhibit in less than a year since his move was daunting, but the artist sees the challenge as essential to his growth.
“It was undoubtedly a challenge to present an exhibition of 33 works in less than a year and find a place where I could display my work,” Goyani said. “But I was able to do this, and this makes me somewhat satisfied with the direction and path I am taking.”
Jackson, whose architectural career brought him to Las Vegas and Austin, said hosting artists is a way to refresh his own studio space and inspire community engagement.
“I’ve always helped artists, and they’ve helped me back,” he said. “This is an opportunity here to help somebody and maybe get my name out there, too.”
The exhibit is open to visitors whenever Jackson is working in his studio and may include additional social gatherings beyond the opening and closing receptions.
“We’re having an opening party and a closing party, and if it becomes a social circumstance, we might just have a party every Friday,” he added.
For Goyani, the exhibit represents more than just artistic expression; it’s an affirmation of resilience and continuity.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “Despite all the difficulties I faced here, I refuse to give up or deviate from the path of art.”
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Thank you Mr. Jackson for supporting artists. I cant wait to stop by to see this artist.