We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maryam (Nilu) Ghasempour Siahgaldeh. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maryam (Nilu) below.
Maryam (Nilu), thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience stems from the women in my family, particularly my mother. She taught me that strength isn’t always loud or visible; it often lies in quiet endurance, persistence, and the ability to hold everything together when the world is falling apart.
I also draw resilience from the Iranian people, especially those who continue to live, create, and resist despite immense pressure and injustice. Experiences of immigration, separation, and survival have shaped me, but so has hope.
My camera has become my tool for processing pain, witnessing strength, and reclaiming agency. Every photo I take is a way of saying: we’re still here.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a documentary and fine art photographer from northern Iran, currently based in the U.S. My work focuses on themes of migration, identity, and labor oppression, often rooted in personal experiences and broader political realities. Through visual storytelling, I aim to amplify silenced voices and highlight the unseen emotional and social impacts of displacement and systemic injustice.
My practice is unique in how I blend traditional and experimental techniques. I use cyanotype, film, and digital double exposure, long exposure, projection, and various photographic processes to create layered, symbolic imagery. These methods allow me to visually express the emotional weight behind the stories I tell, offering viewers both an intimate and critical lens through which to engage.
Currently, I’m working on three interconnected photography projects exploring exile, the female immigrant experience, and the struggles of the Iranian working class. Together, they reflect my ongoing commitment to using art as a form of resistance, remembrance, and connection.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to storytelling with purpose. Resilience helped me navigate personal and political challenges; adaptability allowed me to grow across disciplines and cultures, and storytelling gave my work meaning and direction. My advice to emerging artists is to be patient, stay curious, and let your personal experiences shape your voice. Trust that your story matters — even if it hasn’t been heard yet.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I’ve learned to listen to my body and mind when I feel overwhelmed. I go to the gym to release stress physically — movement helps me reset. I also practice piano, which brings me a sense of calm and focus, and I journal to process my thoughts and emotions. These routines ground me and allow me to breathe outside of my work.
One strategy that really helps is breaking down tasks into small, manageable steps instead of trying to do everything at once. And I remind myself that it’s okay to rest — creativity isn’t constant, and sometimes stepping away is exactly what we need to return stronger.
My advice is to find rituals that bring you peace, whatever they may be. Prioritize your well-being because taking care of yourself is part of sustaining your art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.behance.net/maryamghasemp
- Instagram: Niloofarlenscraft
- Linkedin: Maryam Ghasempour
- Other: https://www.spenational.org/members/maryam-ghasempour-siahgaldeh
Image Credits
Maryam Ghasempour Siahgaldeh ( Nilu )
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