Mojgan Baloochestani, professionally known as Moji Baloochi, is a Canadian artist, designer, author, and creative visionary whose work reflects a lifelong passion for transforming imagination into reality. Working across painting, sculpture, illustration, jewelry design, product design, interior design, ceramics, and visual storytelling, she believes creativity has no boundaries and that every idea can become a work of art.
Born into a family that valued education, innovation, and artistic expression, Mojgan was inspired from an early age by generations of accomplished professionals. Her father, a chemical engineer, served as a director of the National Iranian Oil Company’s refineries before founding a successful international engineering corporation. Her mother pursued a career in the medical field. Her grandfather, an accomplished professor and author of numerous scientific textbooks, was also a respected painter and sculptor whose work received distinguished recognition during his lifetime. Growing up in this environment nurtured Mojgan’s curiosity, creativity, and dedication to excellence.
Mojgan’s artistic talent was evident early on. Between the ages of 11 and 15, she earned multiple first-place provincial awards in painting, journalism, and ballet, while also performing as a ballet dancer on Iranian National Television. Although she excelled academically and had the opportunity to pursue many professional careers, she chose to follow her passion for art.
After moving to the United States, Mojgan continued her artistic education and received First Place in the Texas Statewide College Art Show for two consecutive years, in 1987 and 1988, recognizing both her technical ability and creative vision.
Throughout her career, Mojgan has explored a broad range of artistic disciplines, including fine art, sculpture, book illustration, product design, jewelry design, interior design, marketing, and ceramics. Her work is recognized for its vibrant colours, imagination, and ability to transform ideas into meaningful visual experiences.
Her artwork has been exhibited in both Iran and Canada. She held a solo exhibition at Barg Gallery in 1996, was selected for exhibition at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art in 1997, and presented a solo exhibition at the Silk Purse Arts Centre in West Vancouver in 1999. Demonstrating her commitment to giving back to the community, she donated original artwork to the September Gala Fundraising Event in 2014 and 2015 in support of charitable initiatives.
In 2016, Mojgan founded Chicolati Design, combining artistic creativity with design, marketing, and product development. Her multidisciplinary background enables her to approach every project with originality and innovation.
Most recently, in 2026, Mojgan was recognized as a Quarter-Finalist in the People’s Artist Competition presented by Johnny Depp, an international art competition supporting The Art of Elysium. Her artwork advanced through multiple rounds of public voting before reaching the quarterfinals, bringing her work to an international audience and reflecting her continued commitment to artistic excellence and creative expression. Today, Mojgan continues to create original works of art while developing new collections, stories, and creative concepts. Her mission is to inspire others through creativity, transform imagination into reality, and create meaningful works that leave a lasting impression.
Selected Achievements
First Place – Fars Provincial Painting Competition (Age 11)
First Place – Fars Provincial Painting Competition (Age 12)
First Place – Fars Provincial Journalism Competition (Age 13)
First Place – Fars Provincial Ballet Competition (Age 14)
First Place – Tabriz Provincial Ballet Competition (Age 15)
First Place – Texas Statewide College Art Show (1987)
First Place – Texas Statewide College Art Show (1988)
Solo Exhibition – Barg Gallery (1996)
Selected Artist – Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (1997)
Solo Exhibition – Silk Purse Arts Centre, West Vancouver (1999)
Artwork Donor – September Gala Fundraising Event (2014 & 2015)
Founder – Chicolati Design (2016)
Quarter-Finalist – People’s Artist Competition presented by Johnny Depp (2026)