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