Zahra Sayeed shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Zahra, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I recently came to California, and as someone who has always loved nature and the outdoors, it’s been deeply joyful to explore this beautiful state. From breathtaking beaches and iconic bridges to giant trees, cliffs, and wildlife, California is full of quiet magic that helps me reconnect with myself and the nature around me.
As a way to expand my creativity outside of work, I enjoy learning about local animals and plants, and photographing the places I visit, sometimes without even realizing how naturally it’s becoming part of my life. What began as a simple way to enjoy the moment has grown into something more meaningful. Capturing light, texture, and movement feels like visual storytelling, and I’ve started to see how these new hobbies gently feed back into my artistic work, even when I’m not consciously trying to “work.”
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Zahra, and I’m a visual artist from Afghanistan. I work across both traditional and digital mediums; painting, sculpture, calligraphy, 3D modeling, and more. In 2017, I co-founded HZN with my sisters Homaira, Nilofar, Aria, and Mina. We began in Dubai, primarily offering commissioned portrait artwork, but soon, it became much more than that.
In 2018, we expanded HZN to Afghanistan, where we opened a creative space that combined a studio, art supply store, gallery, and art education center. Eventually, we launched HZN Café, a coffee shop built into the gallery, where people could gather, relax, and feel inspired in a calm and creative atmosphere. Our goal wasn’t just to sell art; it was to create an entirely different world amidst the tensions, a safe place for expression, especially for women and children who needed room to breathe, imagine, and build community in a society where they were often suppressed.
Everything changed in August 2021 when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. We were forced to shut everything down and go into hiding. I later resettled in the U.S. in 2022, and since then, HZN has continued as an online platform. We now offer prints of our original pieces and ship across the U.S., while I slowly rebuild and have created a few new original works that are now ready to find their new homes.
What makes HZN special is the combination of our unique art styles, our strong team, our deep story, and the meaningful values and purpose behind everything we do. Whether through a brushstroke or a shared cup of coffee, we built a space where we could elevate standards and culture, promote freedom and equality for all, and ultimately build, change, and inspire. That remains our goal, even now, as we begin this new chapter in a completely different world.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
It’s hard to recall the earliest memory of feeling powerful, but one noticeable moment was around the age of 10, when I set a personal goal to win as many school competitions as I could that year, and I ended up winning in several categories: academics, art, science, and language. That experience made me realize how much my own efforts could shape the future I wanted. It was the moment I learned not to wait for opportunities, but to chase or create them.
That moment gave me a sense of strength I had never felt before. It showed me that while our futures are shaped by many things we can’t control, we are still responsible for the part that is within our power; our actions, our mindset, and our inner strength. That is our share of responsibility and our chance to create change.
Each year after that, I kept pushing myself, not out of pressure, but because I loved the feeling of growing and becoming better on my own terms. Even then, it wasn’t about the awards. It was about testing how far I could go in becoming the best version of myself and reaching my full potential. I still carry that belief with me today, especially as I rebuild my life from the ground up.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering has taught me how to slow down and truly see what matters. It highlighted the value of those who love me, my health, inner peace, and the beauty and meaning in parts of life that don’t always feel joyful; moments you might otherwise want to skip. I learned to view things from a different perspective and to be grateful for what I might have easily overlooked if I had succeeded right away. It’s not that we need to suffer to understand life, but sometimes it’s in those hard moments that we realize what actually holds us together.
Suffering also taught me to rely on my inner strength, take full responsibility, and fight relentlessly for what matters to me. It made me adaptable and resilient. Success can feel exciting and fulfilling, but it doesn’t always teach you how to endure or how to find meaning in stillness. Suffering definitely did.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
I look at the “why” and “how” behind the change. Foundational shifts are built over time, often in response to a real need or challenge, and are usually supported by a broader historical context and deeper relevance. Fads, by contrast, tend to rise quickly, grow on hype, and often fade without lasting impact.
Take art, for example, how the focus has shifted from traditional beauty toward self-expression, conceptual depth, and viewer interpretation. This didn’t happen overnight. It evolved through decades of artists pushing boundaries and redefining the purpose of art. That’s a foundational shift. It has roots and staying power. Fads might get attention, but foundational shifts change behavior, culture, and systems over time.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Definitely! Back when we first built HZN, I was incredibly excited – doing what I loved most: creating art, working alongside the people I loved most – my sisters, and contributing to a purpose that truly mattered. I woke up every day feeling like I was living my dream. There were nights I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited about the next day, and days I worked non-stop without ever feeling tired.
Starting over in a new country has been overwhelming at times, but it’s also opened a new world of opportunities and freedom; the freedom to express myself, to rebuild on my own terms, and to dream even bigger, this time without limits. Despite all the new challenges I have to face, I still carry that same fire within me.
What excites me most in my artistic journey is bringing my vision to life. Now, whether I’m expressing that vision through a brush on canvas or by rebuilding my life in a new country, the core feeling is the same. Every obstacle I overcome brings me one step closer to that vision, and that’s what keeps me excited and going.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hzn.arts?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MWY2dmJhN2l3NnNrdg==
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