I grew up in a rich white suburb, so being brown was always very sacred and special to me. I was always immersed in Pakistani culture, even though I was born and raised in the States. My parents would always speak Urdu to me. Connections like that definitely allow me to incorporate the colors and language of being Pakistani into my work. I knew I was different from all these people. I have a lot of artists in my family, but most of them did it as hobbies. I bring in my family’s history in my photos. I’m inspired by my past family members and I think of each of them as a hero. Whenever I hear about my parents or grandparents childhood, I take notes of the details. My parents were a little on edge about me being an artist full-time, but they came around and they’re really supportive.