09/29/2026
Shamira (Derakhshani) Nicolas was born in 1943 and lived the first 16 years of her life in Tehran, Iran. Several scholarships provided her with the opportunity to attend and earn a high school diploma in the United States. She earned a bachelor's and master's degree from the American University of Beirut, and later attended the Cleveland Institute of Art. She subsequently moved to Rochester, New York where she lived for the remainder of her life. She was an abstract artist and an art gallery owner by profession, focusing on the use of numbers to express contrasting conditions of chaos and order.
Shamira died peacefully on September 25, 2026. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Elias Nicolas; her two sons, Peter Nicolas (Michael Strong) and Alexander Nicolas (Aleksandra Nicolas), and her grandchildren Katherine, Sebastian, and Ava Nicolas. Her legacy lives on through her artwork and her family, who are working to preserve, display, and disseminate her artwork for future generations to enjoy.
Shamira was a member of The Arena Art Group for many years. We will miss her.
