Meet Farzan Sabet

Today we’d like to introduce you to Farzan Sabet.

Farzan, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born a female and raised in Iran in a Baha’i family. My family had a hard time after the Iranian revolution in 1979. The new government of the country started oppressing Baha’i families including mine. The year that I was born, my grandfather was captured by the revolutionary guards and soon after, he was given death penalty because of his faith. Growing up, we heard a lot of stories about my grandfather and what kind of a person he was. My grandmother never remarried after losing my grandfather because he was the love of her life.

Seeing my grandma’s love and hearing all those stories about my grandfather, he became my hero who sacrificed his life and things he loved for what he believed in.

At the age of 7, my mother and father got separated and my mother took custody of my sister and I. My father barely visited us or give us a call. My mother, on the other hand, was our father and mother both at the same time. She was always taking care of us and never remarried because she didn’t want us to have a stepfather. After the separation, we moved to my grandmother’s house. It was great. My mother signed us up for art classes on the weekend because she had so much love for art. I always dressed up like boys and would go out to play soccer with the other kids, climb up trees, skateboard on the slope of our building parking structure, and etc. It was the greatest.

I never liked to wear hijab. I picked a boy name and anytime someone was asking me what was my name, I was giving them that name. My birth name was Farnaz (female name) and the name I was using was Farzad (male name). Life was great except a few hardships in our lives and harassments we were getting along the way by the government due to our religion. In Baha’i faith, children are not born into the religion and they get to make that decision themselves if they want to be a Baha’i.

That happens when you’re about 15 years old. When I turned 15, I decided to be a Baha’i but due to some of those hardships, my family told me to wait until everything calms down. After everything calmed down, I finally became a Baha’i.

I was already done with high school but Baha’is cannot go further than that with their education as they are banned by the government to go further. I started working instead at the age of 17. I was helping my mother with her job sometimes too. She was working as a salesperson in a women’s clothing store. At a certain age, I also had to start wearing hijab due to growing up and not being able to hide my female anatomy. I hated it. Every chance I was finding, I was losing the hijab and learn how to ride a motorcycle from my sister’s boyfriend.

In 2003, my grandmother moved to the United States and we had to move to a smaller town that rent was cheaper. I loved my family but not being able to make money and help my mother was killing me. I couldn’t go to university either to get a degree that could be helpful. My mother was also ill (she has MS) so she couldn’t work too much. I made my decision to move to the US as well. My grandmother became my sponsor and I sought asylum here in the US and was accepted.

After moving to the U.S., I rejoined with my grandmother and I started my college education soon after I was settled. I majored in Art/Ceramics at Pierce College (woodland hills). During my years at Pierce College, I started thinking about my sexuality and why I do not have any feelings towards the opposite sex. Growing up in Iran, I didn’t know much about sexuality and didn’t even know about the possibilities that are out there. I wanted to be a man but didn’t even think that was possible. I came out to my family as a lesbian during my 2nd or 3rd year in the US. My family was very supportive. They didn’t question it much. Perhaps being far from them made it easier?

After finishing College, I transferred to California State University, Northridge. where I obtained my Bachelor in Arts and Master in Arts. During my second year in my Masters, I was still having difficulty with my sexuality and identification. I was just uncomfortable in my own skin. Finally, one of my mentors recommended me to visit LGBTQ Center in Hollywood which I did. After a few visits to the center and meeting with the doctor for evaluations, I started my Testosterone shots. It was the most amazing thing that ever happened to me. I was so much more confidence and was able to talk more to people. It was different. My grandmother didn’t understand it as much but I understood that she was from a different generation so I was okay. She was still very supportive even if she had doubts about my transition to male.

I graduated with my MA in 2013 and was accepted to Claremont Graduate University. The year between 2013 and 2015 was not my favorite, I was missing my family, had my heart broken, had a car accident, and lost my grandmother in January of 2015. The most difficult part was losing my grandmother of course. I took care of her all of the years I have been in the US and all of the sudden, she was gone. I was kicked out from the place that grandma and I were living because I wasn’t on the lease so I had to move into my studio at Claremont. My good friend/classmate who was like my brother let me stay in their back house but I was mostly trying to get my work ready for my thesis show a month after. I made the decision to just staying in my studio mostly and crank work as much as possible.

I was successful. I was able to finish my Thesis and graduate. I applied for many jobs after and the Ceramic lab Tech position at USC was the one that stuck. I was accepted as a driver at Dominos Pizza as well but the day that I was about to start working at Dominos, I call the call from USC. Who wouldn’t accept it?

Now here I am, working at USC since 2015. I finally did my top surgery as well on July 8th, 2016. I couldn’t be happier.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There has been many struggles but I guess without them, life wouldn’t be fun. Moving to the US without family and adjusting to the new life. Keeping up with school especially since English is not your dominant language. Finding jobs.

Losing my grandmother was the hardest. It was so many things that got affected by her passing. I almost went homeless but thank goodness for having amazing friends who would stand by you. Financial difficulties. etc…

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Artist – what should we know?
I’m an artist so part of my work is to create art. An artist business is their art making. I mostly work in ceramic. I do a lot of experimentation, installations, videos, and mixed media but mostly my focus is ceramic.

I am very proud of my work and where I am because of all the things I have been through. I make pieces about all of these things especially about my transitioning to a male. I don’t mean in literal terms but I mostly think of the similarities of human body and clay. I have a very different view in that sense.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Staying humble, kind, forgiving, and being myself.

Pricing:

• Anywhere from $30-$500

Contact Info:

• Website: www.farnazsabet.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farzan_sabet/

Image Credit:
Tanya Batura

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