Ara holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Sculpture) from RMIT University and a Master’s degree in Social Science (Environment and Planning). His work explores the intersection of cultural landscapes and natural ecosystems, with a sustained focus on Mesopotamian artefacts, literature, and mythology.

Ara creates hybrid and reimagined forms that evoke both the ancient and the contemporary. Drawing from archaeological figures, decayed architectural sites, and mythological narratives, his works give rise to fictional deities and imagined relics that reflect on identity, transformation, and resilience. He is particularly captivated by the ways ancient belief systems have been reshaped by shifting geopolitical landscapes and cultural interpretations over thousands of years. His work seeks to bridge past and present, offering a poetic dialogue that invites audiences to reconsider historical narratives through contemporary perspectives.

His work has been widely exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the National Gallery of Victoria, Michael Reid Gallery (Sydney), Scott Lawrie Gallery (Auckland), Contemporary Art Space (Montevideo), and Liverpool Powerhouse (Sydney). Dolatian has received support from Creative Australia, Creative Victoria, and the City of Melbourne, and his work is held in public and private collections.