Meet Maedeh Ojaghloo

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maedeh Ojaghloo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maedeh, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

For me, purpose didn’t come all at once — it revealed itself gradually, through the intersection of lived experience, activism, and art. Early in my life, I was on a very different path, studying a technical field. But during that time, I started volunteering with children battling cancer, and something shifted. I began to understand the quiet weight of unheard stories — and photography became the language I used to honor them.

Over the years, that instinct evolved into something deeper. My camera became a tool for listening, for witnessing, for advocating. I found myself drawn to the voices pushed to the margins — children in labor, women silenced by patriarchal systems, communities navigating trauma. And as I began creating work rooted in these realities, I realized this wasn’t just a creative practice — it was my purpose.

When I moved to the U.S. and the Women, Life, Freedom movement ignited in Iran, it was no longer just personal — it was urgent. My art became a bridge between memory and resistance, between my homeland and the world. Today, I see my purpose as using visual storytelling to amplify truth, challenge injustice, and create space for others to be seen — especially those whose stories are too often overlooked.

This journey has not always been easy, but it has always been meaningful. Every step — from activism to immigration to art — has deepened my commitment to telling stories that matter.
As the Persian poet Saadi once wrote:
“Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you’ve no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.”

These words continue to guide the heart of my work — reminding me that storytelling is not only an act of art, but an act of shared humanity.

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’m Maedeh Ojaghloo, an Iranian multidisciplinary artist, activist, and educator. My work sits at the intersection of art and advocacy, driven by a deep commitment to justice, memory, and storytelling. I began my creative path by listening—often to the voices that society chooses not to hear. Over time, I realized that art could be more than a reflection; it could be a form of resistance.

As an immigrant and non-native English speaker, I found power in visual language. Photography and installation became ways to cross borders, start difficult conversations, and explore themes like child labor, gender violence, displacement, and identity. My process is rooted in trust—many of the people I work with have experienced silencing, trauma, or systemic erasure. I approach their stories with care, creating space for them to be seen and heard on their terms.

What excites me most about my practice is its potential to create dialogue. I don’t believe art should sit quietly on a wall. I want it to challenge, disrupt, and push viewers to ask themselves uncomfortable questions.

I’m currently focused on Beyond Shattered Honor, a body of work exploring the crisis of honor killings in Iran. The project combines documentary photography, sculpture, and digital archives to confront the systemic roots of gender-based violence. I’ll be presenting this work in an upcoming online lecture through the Society for Photographic Education (SPE) in April.

Ultimately, my goal is to create art that matters—art that speaks, provokes, and invites action. For those encountering my work for the first time: I hope it moves you, challenges you, and reminds you of the power of empathy in shaping change.

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

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful forces in my journey—especially in creating Beyond Shattered Honor—have been cultural sensitivity, emotional endurance, and a strong sense of ethical responsibility.

Cultural sensitivity has been essential in shaping this project, which deals with the highly sensitive and deeply rooted issue of honor killings in Iran. I wasn’t just documenting a tragedy—I was navigating a layered history of religion, gender, politics, and silence. Understanding the nuances of my own culture while also translating that for a global audience required ongoing learning, unlearning, and careful intention. For those starting out: honor the complexity of the cultures you’re working within. Research is important, but so is humility.

Emotional endurance was something I had to build over time. Working with the stories of victims and survivors is not something you can approach passively—it affects you. With Beyond Shattered Honor, there were moments when I felt paralyzed by grief and rage. But I learned how to create emotional boundaries, to take breaks without disconnecting, and to let the weight of the work shape me without breaking me. My advice? Care for your emotional health like you care for your creative tools—it’s what keeps you sustainable.

Ethical responsibility has guided every decision in this project—from how I handle archival material to how I represent the lives of those who can no longer speak for themselves. I constantly ask myself: Who is this work for? Who might it hurt? Who does it empower? It’s not always easy, and it doesn’t come with a rulebook. But if you want to create work that truly matters, you must be willing to hold yourself accountable. My advice to emerging artists: don’t rush to produce—take the time to question your role in the stories you tell.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have different people and communities shape my journey — emotionally, artistically, and professionally.

First and foremost, I have to thank my family. Their unwavering support, especially when I chose to pursue a career as a social activist, gave me the courage to follow a path that wasn’t always easy or conventional. They taught me that life isn’t just about personal success — it’s about standing up for others and using your voice to create change.

I also owe a great deal to the people whose stories I’ve had the honor of sharing — particularly children impacted by labor in Iran and Iranian women who continue to resist systemic oppression. Their trust, resilience, and strength have shaped not only my artistic practice, but also my understanding of responsibility as a storyteller. My solo exhibition Unseen Light in Poughkeepsie, NY and my project Beyond Shattered Honor, presented at the Dorsky Museum, are rooted in their lived experiences.

Since moving to the United States, I’ve also found an incredible circle of mentors, advisors, and friends who’ve supported me as an immigrant artist. Their encouragement helped me navigate unfamiliar terrain — both creatively and culturally — and was instrumental in developing Beyond Shattered Honor.

These people — my family, my subjects, and my community — have taught me what it means to build trust, honor truth, and hold space for stories that are too often overlooked. Their impact is present in every part of my work.

As Navid Afkari — the Iranian wrestler executed for speaking out — once said:
“Dear people, your silence means supporting oppression and oppressors.”
That reminder lives at the core of what I do — and I carry it with me in every project I create.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maedehojaghloo.com
• Instagram: Maedehsframe
• Other: https://beyondshatteredhonor.com