Education
2005
Masters of Fine Arts, Photography, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, Massachusetts.
1999
Bachelors of Arts, Photography, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Awards and Grants
2014
Ontario Arts Council Visual Artists: Mid-Career grant.
2013
Toronto Arts Council Visual Artists grant.
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant.
2012
Access and Career Development grant, Ontario Arts Council.
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant.
2011
Canada Council for the Arts Travel grant.
2010
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant.
Ontario Arts Council Visual Artists: Mid-Career grant.
2006
Visual Arts Fellowship grant, Somerville Arts Council, Somerville, MA.
Zeff Photo Supply Prize, Outstanding Photography, National Prize Show, Cambridge Art Association (Juried by Cheryl Brutvan, Beal Curator of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Art).
2002
Artadia grant, Chicago.
Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) grant, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago.
2001
CAAP grant, Dept. of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago.
Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
2015
The Man From Limbuwan, Image Ark, Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2014
This Country is Yours, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu.
2013
This Country is Yours, Toronto Image Works, Toronto, ON (solo).
2012
Don River, Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA (solo).
2011
Don River, Gallery 44, Toronto. (two-person).
2008
Many Rivers to Cross, The Artists Foundation, Boston (solo).
Across Geographies, Galeria Ateneo Porfirio Barba Jacob, Medellín, Colombia (two-person).
2006
Juxtapositions: New Photographs, Carol Schlosberg Alumni Gallery, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA (solo).
Fire, Somerville City Hall, Somerville, MA (solo).
2004
Thrill of the Grass, Doran Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art (two-person).
2002
Life in a Different Light, NAFA (Nepal Association of Fine Arts) Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal (solo)
2001
Swasthani Festival, Spiny Babbler Museum, Kathmandu (solo).
Selected Group Exhibitions
2015
Beyond Measure: Domesticating Distance, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario.
2014
An Ocean of Possibilities, Noorderlicht Photofestival, Museum TwentseWelle, Enschede, The Netherlands.
An Ocean of Possibilities, Noorderlicht Photofestival, Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
An Ocean of Possibilities, Singapore International Photo Festival, ArtScience Museum, Singapore.
2013
Nine Rivers City, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON (outdoor public installation).
2012
Big Enough? Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
Trespass, Goethe Institut, New Dehli.
2011
Flourish: Alumni Works on Paper, Sandra & Bakalar Gallery, MassArt, Boston.
The Annual – SAVAC’s Juried Members’ Exhibition, The Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON.
I Witness, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
2010
Portfolio Exposition, Les Territoires, Montreal, QC.
2009
Wall to Wall, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON.
2008
Are We There Yet? Gasp Gallery, Brookline, MA (Curator: Dawoud Bey).
Are We There Yet? Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL (Curator: Dawoud Bey).
2007
You Are Here, Lillian Immig Gallery, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA. (Curator: Kathleen Bitetti, in conjunction with Boston Cyberarts Festival).
Document: Social Documentary Work from Greater Boston, Photographic Resource Center at Boston University, Boston, MA (Curator: Leslie K Brown).
New Art ’06, Kingston Gallery, Boston, MA (Juror: Susan D Greenberg, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Yale University Gallery).
Essex Art Center Juried Show 2006, Essex Art Center, Lawrence, MA (Juror: Brian Allen, Director, Addison Gallery, Andover, MA).
PRC Members Exhibition, Photographic Resource Center at BU (Juror: Jeanine Fijol, Photo Editor, Photo District News Magazine).
2005
MFA Thesis Exhibition, Bakalar Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (catalog).
2004
First Annual Juried Summer Exhibition, Tufts University Gallery, Medford, MA. (Juror: Amy Ingrid Schlegel, Director of the Galleries and Collections, Tufts University Gallery).
Art+Official Eye Screening, Film Department, Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
2003
Project Pittsfield, Doran Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
2002
Unity Month 2002, O’Hare International Airport, Terminal One, Chicago, IL.
Four Walls, Glass Curtain Gallery, Columbia College Chicago.
Those Who Do, Teach, Marwen Foundation, Chicago.
2001
Digital Vision 2001, Flatfile, Chicago.
2000
First Works, Book and Paper Arts Center, Chicago.
Commission
2013
Nine Rivers City: Toronto’s Extraordinary Waterways, commissioned by Toronto and Region Conservation, and Harbourfront Centre to photograph people’s deep relationship with Rouge River and its watershed.
2000
City 2000, Chicago, commission to photograph the Nepali diaspora of Chicago.
Collections
Bank of America Collection (formerly The LaSalle Bank Collection), Chicago.
Citibank Corporate Art Program, New York City.
Ruttenberg Collection, Chicago.
Bibliography
2014
Marisa Samoff, “The Artist, Transnational,” Friday Entertainment Weekly, 07/19/2014, pp 26.
2013
June Chua, “Nepal’s social, political changes captured in photographs,” Rabble.ca, 11/27/2013. http://rabble.ca/columnists/2013/11/nepals-social-political-changes-captured-photographs
2012
Dave Leblanc, “How much space do we really need?” The Globe and Mail, 2/10/2012, pp G6.
Robert Moeller, “Peter Kayafas: Totems and Surendra Lawoti: Don River,” Art New England, 2/2/2012.
Mark Feeney, “Spare Scenes at Kayafas Exhibit,” The Boston Globe, 1/21/2012.
2010
Paul Gallant, “Life in the Don,” Spacing Magazine, Spring 2010, pp 20 – 23.
2008
Lauren Weinberg, “Are We There Yet?” Time Out Chicago, 8/7- 13/8/2008, Issue 180.
Jason Foumber, “At Home in All Places,” Newcity Chicago, 14/8/2008, p. 19.
2006
Mark Feeney, “They’re Connected by Community,” The Boston Globe, 26/2/2006, pp. N6.
“Forum,” Camera Austria, 95/2006, pp. 58 -59.
Erin Dower, “Firefighters Made Larger Than Life,” Somerville Journal, 9/2/2005, pp. 1 and 21.
Leslie K Brown, “Document: Social Documentary from Greater Boston,” In the Loupe, January/February 2006, pp. 10 – 15.
2002
“Life in a Different Light,” Nepali Times, 1/11 – 7/11/2002, pp 8 – 9.
2001
Tania Railli “Painting with computers,” Chicago Journal, Volume 1, No. 15, 25/1/01, pp. 16.
Michael Weistein, “Digital Vision 2001,” Newcity, 25/1/01, p. 40.
2000
Victor M Cassidy, “Prairie Smoke,” Artnet.com, Magazine Features, 07/2000.
Michael Weinstein, “Emotional Landscapes,” Newcity, 15/6/2000, pp. 40-41.
Artist Lectures
2014
Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal. In conjunction with solo exhibition This Country is Yours.
Toronto Image Works Gallery, Toronto. In conjunction with solo exhibition This Country is Yours.
2013
BloomBars, Washington DC, in conjunction with Global Nepal Fest 2013.
2011
Gallery 44, Toronto, in conjunction with solo exhibit Don River.
2010
Photo Circle, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Spiny Babbler, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2008
Northeastern University, Boston. Visiting Artist for Seniors Projects II taught by Neal Rantoul.
Emerson College, Boston. Visiting Artist for Color Photography taught by Camilo Ramirez.
New England Institute of Art, Boston. Visiting Artist for The Extended Portrait taught by Claire Beckett.
2006
Montserrat College of Art. In conjunction with the solo exhibit Juxtapositions: New Photographs.
Emmanuel College, Boston, MA. Visiting Artist for The Senior Thesis taught by Megumi Naitoh.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Visiting Artist for The Extended Portrait class taught by David Hilliard.
2005
Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Visiting Artist for View Camera class taught by Nicholas Nixon.
Related Experience
2012-14
Executive Director, Toronto Nepali Film Festival.
2012-14
Member, Programming Committee, South Asian Visual Arts Centre (SAVAC).
2010-12
Festival Curator, Toronto Nepali Film Festival.
2011
Member, Exhibition Programming Committee, Gallery 44, Toronto.
Current Employment
2009-15
Sessional Instructor, Photography Department, Ontario College of Art and Design University.
Gallery Representation
Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA.
2005
Masters of Fine Arts, Photography, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, Massachusetts.
1999
Bachelors of Arts, Photography, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Awards and Grants
2014
Ontario Arts Council Visual Artists: Mid-Career grant.
2013
Toronto Arts Council Visual Artists grant.
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant.
2012
Access and Career Development grant, Ontario Arts Council.
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant.
2011
Canada Council for the Arts Travel grant.
2010
Ontario Arts Council Exhibition Assistance grant.
Ontario Arts Council Visual Artists: Mid-Career grant.
2006
Visual Arts Fellowship grant, Somerville Arts Council, Somerville, MA.
Zeff Photo Supply Prize, Outstanding Photography, National Prize Show, Cambridge Art Association (Juried by Cheryl Brutvan, Beal Curator of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Art).
2002
Artadia grant, Chicago.
Community Arts Assistance Program (CAAP) grant, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago.
2001
CAAP grant, Dept. of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago.
Solo and Two-Person Exhibitions
2015
The Man From Limbuwan, Image Ark, Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2014
This Country is Yours, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu.
2013
This Country is Yours, Toronto Image Works, Toronto, ON (solo).
2012
Don River, Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA (solo).
2011
Don River, Gallery 44, Toronto. (two-person).
2008
Many Rivers to Cross, The Artists Foundation, Boston (solo).
Across Geographies, Galeria Ateneo Porfirio Barba Jacob, Medellín, Colombia (two-person).
2006
Juxtapositions: New Photographs, Carol Schlosberg Alumni Gallery, Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA (solo).
Fire, Somerville City Hall, Somerville, MA (solo).
2004
Thrill of the Grass, Doran Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art (two-person).
2002
Life in a Different Light, NAFA (Nepal Association of Fine Arts) Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal (solo)
2001
Swasthani Festival, Spiny Babbler Museum, Kathmandu (solo).
Selected Group Exhibitions
2015
Beyond Measure: Domesticating Distance, The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario.
2014
An Ocean of Possibilities, Noorderlicht Photofestival, Museum TwentseWelle, Enschede, The Netherlands.
An Ocean of Possibilities, Noorderlicht Photofestival, Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands.
An Ocean of Possibilities, Singapore International Photo Festival, ArtScience Museum, Singapore.
2013
Nine Rivers City, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, ON (outdoor public installation).
2012
Big Enough? Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
Trespass, Goethe Institut, New Dehli.
2011
Flourish: Alumni Works on Paper, Sandra & Bakalar Gallery, MassArt, Boston.
The Annual – SAVAC’s Juried Members’ Exhibition, The Living Arts Centre, Mississauga, ON.
I Witness, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
2010
Portfolio Exposition, Les Territoires, Montreal, QC.
2009
Wall to Wall, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON.
2008
Are We There Yet? Gasp Gallery, Brookline, MA (Curator: Dawoud Bey).
Are We There Yet? Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL (Curator: Dawoud Bey).
2007
You Are Here, Lillian Immig Gallery, Emmanuel College, Boston, MA. (Curator: Kathleen Bitetti, in conjunction with Boston Cyberarts Festival).
Document: Social Documentary Work from Greater Boston, Photographic Resource Center at Boston University, Boston, MA (Curator: Leslie K Brown).
New Art ’06, Kingston Gallery, Boston, MA (Juror: Susan D Greenberg, Assistant Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, Yale University Gallery).
Essex Art Center Juried Show 2006, Essex Art Center, Lawrence, MA (Juror: Brian Allen, Director, Addison Gallery, Andover, MA).
PRC Members Exhibition, Photographic Resource Center at BU (Juror: Jeanine Fijol, Photo Editor, Photo District News Magazine).
2005
MFA Thesis Exhibition, Bakalar Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (catalog).
2004
First Annual Juried Summer Exhibition, Tufts University Gallery, Medford, MA. (Juror: Amy Ingrid Schlegel, Director of the Galleries and Collections, Tufts University Gallery).
Art+Official Eye Screening, Film Department, Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
2003
Project Pittsfield, Doran Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
2002
Unity Month 2002, O’Hare International Airport, Terminal One, Chicago, IL.
Four Walls, Glass Curtain Gallery, Columbia College Chicago.
Those Who Do, Teach, Marwen Foundation, Chicago.
2001
Digital Vision 2001, Flatfile, Chicago.
2000
First Works, Book and Paper Arts Center, Chicago.
Commission
2013
Nine Rivers City: Toronto’s Extraordinary Waterways, commissioned by Toronto and Region Conservation, and Harbourfront Centre to photograph people’s deep relationship with Rouge River and its watershed.
2000
City 2000, Chicago, commission to photograph the Nepali diaspora of Chicago.
Collections
Bank of America Collection (formerly The LaSalle Bank Collection), Chicago.
Citibank Corporate Art Program, New York City.
Ruttenberg Collection, Chicago.
Bibliography
2014
Marisa Samoff, “The Artist, Transnational,” Friday Entertainment Weekly, 07/19/2014, pp 26.
2013
June Chua, “Nepal’s social, political changes captured in photographs,” Rabble.ca, 11/27/2013. http://rabble.ca/columnists/2013/11/nepals-social-political-changes-captured-photographs
2012
Dave Leblanc, “How much space do we really need?” The Globe and Mail, 2/10/2012, pp G6.
Robert Moeller, “Peter Kayafas: Totems and Surendra Lawoti: Don River,” Art New England, 2/2/2012.
Mark Feeney, “Spare Scenes at Kayafas Exhibit,” The Boston Globe, 1/21/2012.
2010
Paul Gallant, “Life in the Don,” Spacing Magazine, Spring 2010, pp 20 – 23.
2008
Lauren Weinberg, “Are We There Yet?” Time Out Chicago, 8/7- 13/8/2008, Issue 180.
Jason Foumber, “At Home in All Places,” Newcity Chicago, 14/8/2008, p. 19.
2006
Mark Feeney, “They’re Connected by Community,” The Boston Globe, 26/2/2006, pp. N6.
“Forum,” Camera Austria, 95/2006, pp. 58 -59.
Erin Dower, “Firefighters Made Larger Than Life,” Somerville Journal, 9/2/2005, pp. 1 and 21.
Leslie K Brown, “Document: Social Documentary from Greater Boston,” In the Loupe, January/February 2006, pp. 10 – 15.
2002
“Life in a Different Light,” Nepali Times, 1/11 – 7/11/2002, pp 8 – 9.
2001
Tania Railli “Painting with computers,” Chicago Journal, Volume 1, No. 15, 25/1/01, pp. 16.
Michael Weistein, “Digital Vision 2001,” Newcity, 25/1/01, p. 40.
2000
Victor M Cassidy, “Prairie Smoke,” Artnet.com, Magazine Features, 07/2000.
Michael Weinstein, “Emotional Landscapes,” Newcity, 15/6/2000, pp. 40-41.
Artist Lectures
2014
Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu, Nepal. In conjunction with solo exhibition This Country is Yours.
Toronto Image Works Gallery, Toronto. In conjunction with solo exhibition This Country is Yours.
2013
BloomBars, Washington DC, in conjunction with Global Nepal Fest 2013.
2011
Gallery 44, Toronto, in conjunction with solo exhibit Don River.
2010
Photo Circle, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Spiny Babbler, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2008
Northeastern University, Boston. Visiting Artist for Seniors Projects II taught by Neal Rantoul.
Emerson College, Boston. Visiting Artist for Color Photography taught by Camilo Ramirez.
New England Institute of Art, Boston. Visiting Artist for The Extended Portrait taught by Claire Beckett.
2006
Montserrat College of Art. In conjunction with the solo exhibit Juxtapositions: New Photographs.
Emmanuel College, Boston, MA. Visiting Artist for The Senior Thesis taught by Megumi Naitoh.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Visiting Artist for The Extended Portrait class taught by David Hilliard.
2005
Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Visiting Artist for View Camera class taught by Nicholas Nixon.
Related Experience
2012-14
Executive Director, Toronto Nepali Film Festival.
2012-14
Member, Programming Committee, South Asian Visual Arts Centre (SAVAC).
2010-12
Festival Curator, Toronto Nepali Film Festival.
2011
Member, Exhibition Programming Committee, Gallery 44, Toronto.
Current Employment
2009-15
Sessional Instructor, Photography Department, Ontario College of Art and Design University.
Gallery Representation
Gallery Kayafas, Boston, MA.