Karen Dias is an interdisciplinary artist and photographer working across mediums and materials. Her practice explores systems and representations of power, violence and pain. 

She grew up in Mumbai, belongs to Goa and is based in New York City.

photo by gayatri ganju

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

പൊന്നുപോലെ/Like Gold, Curated by Murtaza Vali, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Kerala, India, 2025-2026

Performance Reading, Readings in the Garden, Anonymous Gallery, New York, 2022

No Vacancy, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Gallery, New York, 2021

Art52nd Street, MC Gallery, New York, 2021

05181046324143141713 (a game), 25E Gallery, The New School, New York, 2020  

4 Inches Off the Wall, 25E Gallery, The New School, New York, 2019

India, Tisseurs D’Images Festival, Angers, France, 2018

Unsung: Celebrating the Extraordinary Grandeur of Smallness, Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa, India, 2017

Anthropocenic Mindscapes, Angkor Photo Festival, Cambodia, 2017 

Behind the Portrait, Gulf Photo Plus, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2017

Chennai Photo Biennale, Chennai, India, 2016

Pondy Photo Festival, Pondicherry, India, 2015 

Angkor Photo Festival, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2009

TEACHING

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York (New Documentary Practices), 2026

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Columbia University, School of the Arts, New York (Intro Digital Photography), 2024-2026 

Adjunct Faculty, International Center of Photography, New York (Diving into Documentary Photography), 2022

Adjunct Professor, NYU, Tandon School of Engineering, New York (Theories and Cultural Impacts of Media & Technology), 2022 

Lead Teaching Instructor, Josephine Herrick Project, New York (Principles & Professional Practice in Photography), 2021-2022

Teaching Assistant, Parsons School of Design, BFA Fine Arts, New York (Creativity & Entrepreneurship), 2021 

Teaching Assistant, Parsons School of Design, BFA Fine Arts, New York (3D Sculpture), 2020

Teaching Assistant, Parsons School of Design, BFA Fine Arts, New York (Group Critique & Visiting Artists Lectures), 2020

Guest Lecturer of Photography, St. Xavier’s University, Mumbai (Mass Media: Photography), 2013-2015

RESIDENCIES, FELLOWSHIPS, ETC.

Artist Fellow, Interdisciplinary Art & Theory Program, 2024-25

Artist-in-Residence, Woodward Residency, New York, 2023 

Artist-in-Residence, Assets for Artists, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, 2022 

Mentor, BIPOC Photo Mentorship Program, 2021-2022

Finalist, A.I.R Gallery Fellowship Program, 2021 

Artist Talk, Indian Photo Festival, 2021 

Panelist, Women Building a Better World Photo Competition, Margaret McNamara Education Grants , 2020 

Finalist, UC Berkeley MFA South Asia Art Prize, 2019 

Grantee, H. Jayadeva Grant for Photography, India, 2019 

Nominee, Prix Pictet Award, France, 2018 

Panelist, Gender and Pay Gaps in Creative Industries, WeWork Mumbai, 2016 

Grantee, International Women’s Media Foundation, Washington DC, 2014 

Reporting Fellow, Himalayan Institute of Climate Adaptation Programme, India, 2013

GRANTS

Sidney Hillman Foundation

Economic Hardship Reporting Project

International Women’s Media Foundation

Margaret McNamara Education Grants

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Visual Artist, Independent Photojournalist, Educator, Mumbai & New York (2012-present)

Staff Photojournalist, Gulf News, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (2007-2011)

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts, The New School, New York, 2021

Bachelor of Mass Media-Journalism, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, 2007