about
Maryam (Nilu) Ghasempour Siahgaldeh (b. 1994) is a researcher, photojournalist, activist, and MFA candidate in Photography at Kansas State University. Prior to immigrating to the U.S., she worked in journalism, focusing on documentary photography that captures authentic, intimate moments, particularly the lives of older women and men under the Islamic regime in northern Iran, and addressing issues of social justice and child labor.
Since moving to the United States, Maryam has navigated the complexities of dual identity, experiencing the emotional tension of living between her homeland and her new environment. This liminal space has deeply informed her artistic practice, shaping her perspective as both an insider and an outsider.
Her current work documents the American experience through the lens of someone coming from an Islamic country with a unique cultural background. At the same time, she revisits and reinterprets her archival documentary photographs to explore women's lives, both in Iran and after migration. Through her photography, Maryam seeks to illuminate the challenges women face globally, highlighting the resilience required of immigrant women as they navigate the delicate balance between two worlds.
