We live in a world of shapes. Look up, and you’ll notice it: the clean lines of your office building, the sharp angles of the neighborhood gym, the tidy symmetry of the bungalow down the street. San Diego architecture is woven together by angles, lines, and shadows, quietly doing their thing as we rush past.
At least, that’s how photographer Maha Bazzari (@studiomaha ) sees it. A multi-disciplinary artist, architectural designer, full-time commercial photographer, and professor of photography for the San Diego Community College District, Bazzari has long been attuned to the overlooked shapes of the world.
Her method is meditative: arrive in stillness, absorb, sit. Notice the way light slices through concrete or pools in a corner. See the shapes, capture the feeling, then click.
Browse a gallery of some of our favorite architectural shots by Bazzari at the link in bio, and get lost in the unique architecture and culture of our city.
Story by @lili.m.kim
This is worth celebrating. I recently completed the largest project I’ve taken on under studio MAHA, and it marks a major milestone in my practice.
I was selected through a competitive process to lead the curation and placement of a large-scale artwork collection for Sharp Rees-Stealy Kearny Mesa, featuring hundreds of my photographic works inspired by San Diego’s regional landscape. Created for the healthcare environment, the collection was designed to bring a sense of calm, connection, and restoration throughout the space.
This project was especially meaningful as my first self-managed art placement project of this scale. From photographing and selecting artwork to site planning, framing, coordination, and installation, it brought together my background in art, photography, and design in a way that felt both deeply challenging and incredibly rewarding.
I’m proud of what came together and grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a space centered on care and healing.
Seeing the project come full circle at the ribbon-cutting and opening celebration made the milestone feel even more real.
I’m looking forward to more opportunities to create thoughtful artwork collections and placement projects for healthcare and other large-scale spaces.
#studioMAHA #HealthcareArt #ArtPlacement #ArtInArchitecture #SanDiegoArt
It finally arrived in the mail. I’m so honored to be published in the Wall Street Journal Magazine. A huge thanks to @mcasandiego for entrusting me with capturing these photos for the reopening of the MCASD La Jolla. It was a delight meeting architect @annabelleselldorf from @selldorfarchitects and MCASD director @kanjogram on the shoot. Congratulations to all those involved. It has been quite the journey. OPENING THIS WEEKEND
Architecture is often the unsung hero of the art world, but boy, does local architectural photographer Maha Bazzari make it sing. Her method is meditative: arrive in stillness, absorb, sit. Notice the way light slices through concrete or pools in a corner. See the shapes, capture the feeling, then click.
Browse PART 2 of Bazzari’s gallery, featured in our April issue. We hope they make you tilt your head, squint your eyes, and never look at a parking garage the same way.
Story by @lili.m.kim
A few moments from Space Maker at @lajollahistory , where a couple of my paintings are on view alongside work by an incredible group of artists, architects, and designers.
If you have not seen the show yet, there is an upcoming curator guided tour on Thursday, April 30 at 11am with Miki Iwasaki, Colette Militello, and McKenna Clifford Yahyai. I think it will be a really nice opportunity to hear more about the exhibition and spend time with the work in a different way.
The show is up through June 7 at La Jolla Historical Society.
If anyone would like to join me for the tour, feel free to message me.
#SpaceMaker #LaJollaHistoricalSociety #SanDiegoArt #ContemporaryPainting #ArchitecturalAbstraction
The April home + design issue of San Diego Magazine is out, featuring my work on the cover and in a six-page photo essay inside.
This feature reflects around 20 years of living in San Diego and photographing its architecture, shaped by the way I’ve come to know the city through both photography and architectural design. That design training has deeply shaped the way I photograph, especially in how I respond to structure, light, material and spatial experience.
Grab a copy, or read the full feature through the link in bio.
@sandiegomag
#SanDiegoMagazine #PhotoEssay #ArchitecturePhotography #SanDiegoPhotographer #studioMAHA
How artwork is photographed shapes how it is seen. I’ll be teaching Seeing the Work: Photographing Art with @campanastudios on May 2 from 9:30–11:00 am at the Carlsbad City Library.
We’ll talk through practical ways to photograph both two-dimensional work and sculpture with more clarity and consistency, focusing on lighting, setup, positioning, and editing in an approachable way.
This workshop is part of Campana Studios’ Artist Business Development Workshop Series, which supports visual artists through accessible, community-based professional development.
Registration is through the Eventbrite link in bio.
The images included here are:
2nd slide: an installation by @mattdevineart at @oceansidemuseum
3rd slide: my wood and brass sculpture
4th slide: one of my acrylic and mixed media paintings
Painting workshop ✨
I’m hosting an abstract painting workshop on March 24 and would love to have you join.
We’ll begin by creating a simple compositional roadmap using architectural drafting tools like pencils, rulers, and triangles, then build the piece through layers of color, texture, and materials like paint, glazes, iron shavings, and gold leaf.
I’ll share parts of my process, a few little secrets, and we’ll spend the evening experimenting and painting together. No painting experience is needed. This is meant to be a relaxed, creative evening to explore, play, and make something of your own.
All materials are provided, and you’ll leave with your own 11x14 piece.
📅 March 24
🕡 6:30 – 8:30 pm
📍 Bivouac Ciderworks Adventure Lodge, North Park
Feel free to arrive a little early to grab a drink or dinner from Bivouac before we begin.
Registration link in bio.
Spots are limited ❤️
Part of Un/Grounded, my exhibition with photographer @jenmarietwist , currently on view at @bivouacnorthpark .
#sandiegoart #sandiegoartists #northparksandiego #abstractpainting #paintingworkshop
Excited to finally share that I’ll be part of Space Maker, an upcoming exhibition at the @lajollahistory La Jolla Historical Society.
The show brings together artists, architects, and designers from the San Diego–Tijuana region whose work explores the relationship between art, architecture, and space. I’m honored to be included in this group of incredible creatives.
My painting Liminal Light (2025) is featured on the Space Maker exhibition page.
Opening reception: Friday, February 20
Exhibition dates: February 20 – June 7, 2026
La Jolla Historical Society, Wisteria Cottage
Thank you to @miki_iwasaki , @lajollahistory , and the curatorial team for including me in this exhibition. I can’t wait to see the show come together.
RSVP link in bio.
Maha and I are back together for our second duo show, Un/Grounded. In celebration of Women’s Month, Bivouac Ciderworks is hosting us at the Adventure Lodge, featuring my photography and Maha’s paintings.
Join us opening weekend:
Friday, March 6th | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm for an opening reception
Sunday, March 8th | 6 pm - 8 pm for Mindful Movement & Sound Bath workshop with me and Amy Thai
RSVP for the reception (free!) and register for the workshop (space is limited!) via the links in bio.
Big thanks to San Diego Lighting Associates @sdlightingassociates for sponsoring the lighting of our artworks.
Our opening reception will feature a performance by musician Kyra Mitchell, and delicious food and drink for purchase from Bivouac Ciderworks. @bivouacnorthpark
We can’t wait to see you!
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#sandiegoartists #photoexhibition #paintingexhibition #fineartphotography #mixedmediaartists
One of the 2026 collaborations that has become a sort of tree—leading to branches of many other collaborations—is the new duo exhibition with my photographs and Maha’s paintings. More details coming soon! Until then, save the date: March 6th, 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm. 🗓️
Here are some behind-the-scenes from our preparations, including Maha in her previous studio, shot by me on @flicfilminc 🎞️
The roots are deep and we’re excited to share what’s growing!
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#photoexhibition #paintingexhibition #contemporaryphotography #fineartphotography #mixedmediaartists #portraitsonfilm
2025 changed my pace.
I stepped back into teaching after nearly a decade away, taught fashion and landscape photography, moved into a new home, and said yes to my biggest project to date. I also spent more time in the studio creating and painting than I have in years. Not just a few hours here and there, but a real shift toward committing to the work in a deeper way.
I’m proud of what I built this year. I’m also being honest about what it asked of me. I got overwhelmed at times, and self care and time with friends didn’t always get the space they deserved. Work felt like a blessing, and it also came with a cost. I tried to stay close to what matters, the people I love, the quiet moments, and the resets in between.
I’m ending the year grateful. not because everything was easy, but because I kept showing up…learning and making my way through.
Looking ahead to 2026, I’m preparing to teach Photojournalism and Documentary Photography, with exhibitions on the horizon including Space Maker at the La Jolla Historical Society. I’m also excited to collaborate more with other artists, in ways that feel aligned with my practice.
Moving into the new year with a quieter kind of focus. More room for art, rest, and the people I love.
Here’s to what we make next.
