Our Team

Painter, photographer and textile artist Mary Hay, developed Artmania in 2002. Mary is a practicing visual artist, a mother of two, and a North Vancouver resident. She believes that daily contact with art keeps life fresh and interesting. She delights in watching her students grow, learn to express themselves, tell stories, and engage with the world through their developing creative skills. Mary earned her BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design / Fashion Institute of Technology NY, Ontario College of Art and Sheridan College. She has taught with the Vancouver and West Vancouver School Board, and has run a professional fabric design studio and an arts-oriented day care.  Mary loves to share her passion for art with everyone and anyone, as well as create a studio filled with inspiration for people to come and experience everyday.

Inanna Cusi is a multidisciplinary artist, focusing on the practical and hands-on shape creation.
Inanna specializes in Filmmaking, currently focusing on analogue motion pictures and darkroom development. She draws, paints, beads, knits , makes animations and films. After completing her BFA in film at SFU, her short films played in many local and national festivals. Inanna teaches many artmania classes, which include:  acting, filmmaking, performance and media art, painting, drawing, comics, handwork and beading. Inanna loves to encourage young minds and is an enthusiastic nurturing member of the Artmania team. 

Meet Shahla Karbalaei, a Persian-Canadian artist whose journey through life has been intricately woven with the vibrant threads of traditional Persian “miniature” painting.

While her academic background is rooted in interior design, Shahla’s heart has always belonged to the realm of creative art. In 1984, she courageously shifted gears to follow her passion, initiating a remarkable career in art. By 1996, she had emerged as a dedicated miniaturist in Iran, turning her love for drawing and painting into a fulfilling profession.

 Shahla Karbalaei holds a bachelor’s degree in art from Azad University of Mashhad, Iran, in addition to diplomas in Interior Design from The World of Science Institute and Negargary from Iran. She is a certified artist accredited by the Institute of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Iran. Shahla has left an indelible mark on the art world, participating in over 30 exhibitions. Her artistic work, “The Look Series,” has been showcased at the Vancouver Fine Art Gallery, and her work has also been featured in exhibitions organized by the Federation of Canadian Artists.

Parisima began painting and sketching at the age of 7 and hasn’t stopped creating since. Her educational background is in fashion and interior design but she also loves abstract art and studied at Emily Carr University. She strongly believes that everyone is creative in their own way but needs to be nourished and acknowledged.

Lenin is a designer, artist, and educator with experience since 2016. He graduated in Interior Design from UCSG and earned a Master’s Degree in Technology and Educational Innovation from ECOTEC. He is notable for representing his school in a national art exhibition, revamping the postgraduate studies area at ESPOL University, and contributing to the design and construction of projects for the Fálquez Hidalgo Studio. Lenin is also a chess player, having won several intercollegiate awards. His teaching philosophy, infused with joy, aims to convey the importance of history and culture, inspiring his students to create unique and identity-rich artworks.