Mahyar Amini — Relief Works North Vancouver, BC

MahyarAmini

Relief works in wood, copper and steel. Landscapes of the West Coast, shaped by hand, one layer at a time.

Layered relief of a copper whale tail rising from swirling teal water, with mountains and a red sun behind — Fluke · wood, copper · 2026

Statement

I trained as a mechanical engineer, and for most of my life my hands have been working with metal and wood. These pieces are where that work slows down. Each one begins as a feeling about a place, and the making is how I find out what that feeling is.

Every panel is built by hand from separate parts. I choose each veneer for its grain, brush and finish the copper and steel at the bench, and sand and fit every edge until the layers settle against each other. No two pieces come out the same. Light moves across the depth during the day and the image changes with it. The subjects are the places I see from North Vancouver: the inlet, the Coast Mountains, the tide, the northern sky.

Selected Works

2026 · six panels

Backlit metal relief of green and violet aurora bands over mountains and a reflective inlet — 01Aurora over the InletBrushed and coloured metal, lit from within

Abstract layered wood spiral in green, walnut, maple and copper tones rising into vertical tree forms — 02UnderstoryLayered wood, dyed veneers

Topographic wood relief of a coastline with blue water and stacked contour layers — 03TidewaterLayered wood, contour relief

Ribbed wood relief of mountain peaks flowing into a blue and green wave — 04RidgelineRibbed wood relief

Copper whale tail rising from layered wood water — 05FlukeLayered wood, brushed copper

Wall-mounted topographic wood relief of British Columbia and Vancouver Island — 06British ColumbiaLayered wood, shaped outline

About

Mahyar Amini is a mechanical engineer, maker and entrepreneur based in North Vancouver. He has spent his working life making things with his hands, in metal and in wood.

The art practice grew out of the quiet hours after work: the same hands and the same workbench, making pieces meant to be felt, not only seen.

Training: Mechanical engineering
Practice: Hand-built relief, each piece finished at the bench
Materials: Hardwood veneers, birch ply, copper, brass, stainless and painted steel
Commissions: Lobbies, offices, residences and hospitality spaces
Based in: North Vancouver, British Columbia

Contact

Enquiries & Commissions

For available works or a commissioned piece for a specific wall, get in touch by email.

mahi_amini@yahoo.com