In the world of contemporary art, Shirin Towfiq stands out as a rising star. Her interdisciplinary work, focusing on installation, sculptural photography, textiles, and printmaking, has been featured in galleries from Australia to New York, and closer to home in San Diego at prestigious venues like the Mingei Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art. But perhaps the most surprising aspect of Shirin's story is that she never expected to become an artist at all.

Years ago, Shirin’s journey began as a new student at MiraCosta College hoping to fulfill two years of pre-requisites before transferring to a four-year university. Her mother had graduated from MiraCosta College when Shirin was younger, so Shirin knew that the culture on campus would be the perfect way to adapt to higher education. Yet even then, art was never on her radar. "To be honest, art was not my thing," Shirin admits. "I wasn't even that good at art when I first started."

It was only by chance, needing to fulfill elective requirements, that Shirin found herself in an Introduction to Darkroom Photography class. A star student in all other classes, Shirin embraced the challenge that the class presented. And while she was far from perfect, her professor saw potential and encouraged Shirin to keep going.

The art department at MiraCosta College proved to be a nurturing ground for Shirin's budding interest. Small class sizes and supportive professors created an environment where she could explore and grow.

"I felt like the classes were small enough and the professors were really supportive in that space," Shirin recalls. “It was a safe space to fail and to grow.”

While Shirin's passion for art was expanding, she still hadn't considered it as a career path. Instead, Shirin and her family expected that a job in law, medicine, or business would be much more likely.

That all changed during a summer internship in Ukraine though. While working in an administrative role at an office, colleagues took her to the Kyiv Biennial, an international contemporary art showcase featuring some of the world’s most renowned artists.

"That was the day my life changed entirely," Shirin shares. "I didn’t know how I was going to do it or if it was even possible but when I saw those exhibits, I decided that was exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my life."

Armed with this newfound clarity, Shirin returned to MiraCosta College with renewed focus. She threw herself into every art class she could, from installation art to printmaking, 2D and 3D design, and sculpture. And her MiraCosta College professors continued to fuel her fire and pushed her to think big. By then, what originally started as an elective course had now evolved into an unwavering commitment toward excellence.

Thanks to the belief and motivation from Professors Gilbert Nery, Rizzhel Javier, and countless others, Shirin decided to explore university programs that would further her development in the arts.

Upon graduating from MiraCosta College, Shirin received scholarships to attend UC Berkeley and then Stanford’s prestigious MFA program, where her art continued to flourish. And yet, Shirin is not finished. She is currently working toward her Ph.D. at UC Santa Cruz where her work explores themes of Iranian diaspora, intergenerational communication, and the complexities of understanding the homeland of her family.

Ever since graduating from MiraCosta College, her art has been featured in galleries and museums across the globe. Shirin’s recent exhibition at the Mingei Museum, "Threaded Journeys," beautifully intertwines her family's history with contemporary art, showcasing how far she's come from those first uncertain steps in a MiraCosta College darkroom.

“I’m really thankful for this journey and what MiraCosta College has provided me,” shared Shirin.

Like so many community college stories, Shirin’s is a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful creations come from the most unexpected beginnings.