Art Practice

2011 – Master of Fine Arts in Photography (with Honours), Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island.

2007 – Bachelor of Education, Junior/ Intermediate Division (Arts integration)
York University, Toronto, Ontario.

2005 – Honours Bachelor of Arts, Art and Art History (Specialist)/ Math (Minor), University of Toronto, Mississauga, Ontario.

2005 – Ontario College Advanced Diploma, Art and Art History
Sheridan College, Oakville, Ontario.

2020 to present – Grant Researcher and Writer, Karachi Biennale Trust, Karachi.
Liaising with granting bodies for the Karachi Biennale Trust, as well as writing and editing grants for their education, discursive and public programming. Facilitated acquiring a grant for the educational programming for KB’22 from UNESCO.

2017 to present – Visiting Professor, Masters of Visual Arts Department, National College of Art, Lahore.
Revamped the curriculum for ‘Research Methodology’, a course that spans three semesters, with a focus on students adhering to the requirements of an academic written thesis, while drawing connections within their research to their studio practice. The course focuses on finding authentic sources, correct citations, ethical data gathering.

2019 to 2020 – Visiting Professor, Fine Art Department, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore.
Taught final year undergraduate students ‘Research Methodology’ and ‘Report Writing’ to introduce them to basic data collection tools, the APA style guide and ways to use library and online resources to help them formulate reasons and evidence for their practice based research.

2015 to 2016 – Independent Curator, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario.
Applied for and received funding from the Ontario Arts Council to curate ‘Beyond Measure: Domesticating Distance’. Curated works by Tazeen Qayuum, Syed Abdullah, Asma Sultana, Surendra Lowati and Meera Margaret and contributed the curatorial essay for the exhibition catalogue. The curatorial essay won the OAAG (Ontario Association of Arts Galleries) Award for Short Text in 2016.

2011 to 2012 – Executive Director, SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Center), Toronto, Ontario.
Conceived and developed ideas for collaborative exhibition, education and
outreach programs. Managed the annual operational and programming budgets and maintaining fiscal accountability. Applied for municipal, provincial and national grants for operating and programming funding, as well as raising fund for the organization through private and corporate donations.

2011 to 2012 – Instructor of Record, Photography Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island.
Taught Photography II for Non-Majors with a focus on advanced and experimental darkroom techniques. Introduced and broadened discourse of both historical and contemporary practices in photography, including alternative processes.

2009 to 2010 – Gallery Coordinator, Red Eye Gallery, RISD, Providence, Rhode Island.
Coordinating with faculty and students to curate, hang and de-install exhibitions. Performed administrative duties, including scheduling, managing social media and editing all written material, including artist statements, curatorial statements and extended captions.

2008 to 2009 – Education and Outreach Coordinator, SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre), Toronto, Ontario.
Created and conducted visual arts workshops with South Asian artists in the GTA, while collaborating with artist-run centres and post-secondary schools.
Shared administrative and organizational responsibilities, including budgeting, writing press releases, contributing to grant writing.

2016 Curatorial Art Writing: Short Text, OAAG (Ontario Association of Art Galleries).
2014 Chalmers Arts Fellowship, Ontario Arts Council.
2013 Cultural Equity Grant, SAW Video.
2012 Emerging Media Arts Grant, Ontario Arts Council.
2011 Graduate Student Award, Society for Photographic Education.
2010 Graduate Studies Award, RISD. (Juried by Susan Cross, Curator, MASS MoCA).
2005 Oakville Galleries Award, Oakville Galleries and Sheridan College.
2005 Excellence in Photography, Sheridan College.
2005 Michael and Grace La Patriello Art History Award, Woodsworth College.
2004 Mary Bursey Award, Women’s Art Association of Canada.
2004 Margaret Laidlaw Memorial Scholarship, University of Toronto.

2012 New Toronto Works, Pleasure Dome, Toronto.
2012 Front by Front. Museum London, London, Ontario.
2011 Monitor 7: New South Asian Short Film and Video, Niagara Arts Centre, St. Catherines.
2011 2011 PRC Student Exhibition. The Photographic Resource Center, Boston.
2011 Rubato: Found Time, Flat Gallery, Providence.
2011 SPE National Conference, Sheraton Hotel, Atlanta.
2011 Monitor 7: New South Asian Short Film and Video. Innis Town Hall, Toronto.
2010 Blue and White and Red All Over. Flat Gallery, Providence.
2010 Five by Seven: Photography Biennial. Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence
2009 Cut and Paste, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, Toronto.
2009 Digital.Event.09, Hotshot Gallery, Toronto.
2008 Regeneration: SAVAC’s Juried Members Exhibition, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
2007 Big Stories, Little India. SAVAC at Gerrard Street, Toronto
2005 Art and Art History Graduating Student Exhibition. Blackwood Gallery, Mississauga.
2005 Annual Juried Show, Justina Barnicke Gallery, Toronto.

2013 Board Member Initiative, Fuse Magazine, Toronto.
2012 Silver: 9th Annual Art Auction, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga
2012 13th Annual Art Auction, Centre A, Vancouver.
2010 Whodunit, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto
2010 HeArts for Pakistan (flood relief), Gladstone Hotel, Toronto

2017 to 2019 – Advisory Board Member, The Regent Park Film Festival, Toronto, Ontario.
Facilitating the conceptualization and execution of the archiving of and the creation of new works from home video footage that will be preserved and digitized for “Home Made Visible.”
2012 to 2014 – Board Member, Fuse Magazine, Toronto, Ontario.
Facilitate operating and fundraising efforts in a period of transition, while ensuring an engagement with social and political contemporary art practice and criticism.
2013 to 2014 – Committee Member, Arts, Culture, Heritage & Recreation Advisory Committee, City of Ottawa, Ontario.
Responsible for providing advice to Ottawa City Council on issues pertaining to policy, programs and services for artists in the community.