Soraya is a Canadian artist based in Victoria BC. Her mother, Monique Mottahedeh, was a talented artist and her first mentor. At the age of fifteen she studied Chinese painting with Thep Thavonsouk, world renown artist, with shows in art galleries and museum all around the world.
Soraya's various travelsto Africa and parts of Asia, had a profound influence on her art. In1993, her family open the first art gallery in Vientiane Laos called Champa Art Gallery where she displayed her art for many years.

​​" Painting is a journey that starts with feelings, they are my medium, conduct my paint strokes, and influence my choices of colors. My canvas is the mirror of my journey, my transformation and my search. Its aim is to reflect my search for peace, harmony, joy and beauty.
I love happy feelings, but my struggles with fibromyalgia have taught me to also use my "less desired" emotions, such as grief, sadness, anger... and to transform them into beauty. My love for Japonese and Chinese art led me to water lilies, lotus flowers, and Koi fish. Painting these subjects allow me to express the murkiness of life while at the same time reaching a spiritual state of calmess, peace and beauty. First Nation symbolism and my recent dream of an eagle feather has embarked me on a fun new exploration of painting feathers. So I invite you to embark on a journey too."

​"Art is my ocean, its dept my journey."