We were lucky to catch up with Anahita Bagheri recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Anahita, thanks for joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The time I sold my artwork was when a private collector bought my work in an exhibition I had back in Tehran. I exhibited a series of works on paper and sculptures. The first piece that was sold was a 39 x 27 inches drawing. That collector expressed genuine interest in my work and purchased the one they liked the most. I was happy my work was sold, but because that work was also my favorite, I felt like something I loved was being taken away from me. But then I quickly felt truly rewarded because one of my favorite pieces as the artist, deeply resonated with my audience. This person could continue enjoying and spending time with my art beyond the gallery walls and the exhibition duration, in their own space, whether private or public, at different times. My work would also find a new life. The fact that this purchase was a recognition of my art made the first dollar I earned out of my art even more joyful and memorable.

Anahita, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Anahita Bagheri is an Iranian artist based in NYC. She works with sculpture, artist book, and multimedia installation in her practice. She moved to NCY from Tehran in 2022. She completed her MFA at Parsons School of Design, where she was awarded a full presidential scholarship. She has been awarded many artist residencies in the US, including Vermont Studio Center, Ucross Foundation, Blue Mountain Center, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA), and Haystack Mountain School of Craft. She is currently a recipient of the 2025 NYFA Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program. Anahita Bagheri has exhibited internationally at biennials and art fairs such as the 2nd Iran Contemporary Art Biennial and Bon-gah Art Book Fair in Tehran. Her artworks are seen in solo and group exhibitions at prominent venues like Arsenal Contemporary Gallery, Transmitter Gallery, and BravinLee Programs in NYC, O Gallery, Etemad Gallery, and Soo Contemporary Gallery in Tehran. Her work has been featured in leading art publications and has achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, finding homes with respected collectors and institutions.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Art has always been at the core of how I navigate the world. I think doing what you love the most and sharing it with others is very rewarding. Art is a form of communication. For me, it becomes more rewarding when someone else sees something in my art that speaks to them. The reward is in moments of connection between the audience, the artwork, and the space around them, when the viewer encounters my work and asks questions, lingers in the space, or connects it to their own story.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Many people think making a living as an artist means choosing between passion and stability. For many of us artists, it’s about aligning what we love with how we live. Turning an art practice into a livelihood takes persistence, experimentation, and belief in the value of your vision even when it’s not immediately profitable.

If there’s one insight I’d offer, it’s that being an artist isn’t just being a talented person. It is a commitment to persist, question, and imagine despite uncertainty. Supporting artists means supporting that commitment and trusting the power of art to reshape how we see the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://anahitabagheri.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/anahitabagheri