Meet Roya Nazari Najafabadi

We were lucky to catch up with Roya Nazari Najafabadi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Roya, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from exploring the intersections between personal and collective struggles, especially regarding cultural displacements and environmental instability. Echo Forms: Voices of Iranian Women Diaspora* is a project that explores the challenges and grief associated with climate change, as well as how to adapt in a new environment. By capturing these states of rapid transition, both psychologically and physically, I can create powerful stories that help me achieve personal change. In my core is strength. I translate suffering into art, and each work I produce speaks volumes about the experiences I would have otherwise kept silent. “Art keeps me going. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.”

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am grateful for this opportunity to share my story. I am deeply influenced by my own journey as well as cultural dislocation narratives. This is especially true for the Iranian women in the diaspora. My art explores environmental and emotional experiences while giving voice and navigating new environments physically and mentally.
Incorporating environmental data in my artistic process is one of the most fascinating aspects of my career. In Echo Forms: Voices of the Iranian Women’s Diaspora*, I used air quality data to inspire garments that represent the diasporic population’s breathability. By combining environmental science and art, I can create works that are not just visually appealing but also have deeper meaning.
My work stands out for its dedication to incorporating both personal and collective stories. My asthma experience, for example, serves as a metaphorical representation of cultural displacement, which I document using daily journals and nonverbal signs that inspire garment designs. This allows me to link personal health, environmental conditions, and emotional well-being engagingly.
My work will continue to explore these themes using dynamic compositions, time-lapse photography, and other visual techniques. This installation aims to stimulate discussion about the environmental impacts on diasporic culture and possible mitigation measures.
It is not just about producing art, but also encouraging dialogue and raising awareness. My art connects art with societal issues in new, meaningful ways. My practice aims to simplify complex situations and make them relatable, while also encouraging the audience to engage with it in a new way.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Resilience: I have faced many challenges, especially about the cultural shift and its emotional impact. Through it all, resilience has been my constant partner – I have turned pain and anxiety into art that captures the human experience. Resilience is not just about overcoming obstacles. It’s also about creating beautiful art from them. You can use obstacles to fuel your creativity by accepting challenges and incorporating them into the story.
Explorative Approach: My work’s unique strength lies in its multidisciplinary composition–combining environmental science, cultural studies and art into an artistic narrative. The multidisciplinary approach has not only broadened and deepened my knowledge but also its impact. If you are just starting your artistic career, I urge you to explore beyond your main field. Let curiosity lead your research into new disciplines which could enhance it in unexpected ways.
I am committed to authenticity. My art has its voice because of this commitment. It is important for those who are just starting on their creative journeys to stay grounded by tapping into the truth of themselves and not conforming too much to what other people expect.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My mentors provided invaluable guidance. Their pushed me beyond my comfort zone to think critically; the feedback they offered (whether constructive criticism or encouragement) played an integral role in honing my artistic voice.
My family provided invaluable guidance and support, helping me better understand my culture while building resilience to meet the demands of my work. They believed in my vision which gave me confidence to pursue it even when things seemed uncertain.
Peers and collaborators were an essential factor. I draw strength and inspiration from being part of an artistic community; through collaboration, I gained new perspectives that help my artistic growth.
All my colleagues and mentors have played a pivotal part in shaping my career, instilling resilience, interdisciplinarity, and authenticity as core values in my work. Their constant support serves as a constant reminder that success requires teamwork from multiple individuals working towards common goals.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.royanazari.com
• Instagram: @royanazari1992