Curriculum Vitae
BIO
Roshan James (she/her) is a Tibetan-Indian multidisciplinary artist, poet, and musician, living as a settler in southwestern Ontario. As part of the South Asian diaspora, Roshan researches and experiments to create work that embodies decolonization, identity, timelessness, mindfulness, purpose, and healing. Entrenched in her work is anti-oppression advocacy and representation of marginalized, queer, and melanated voices to help dismantle colonial, capitalistic systems. As a vocalist, musician, and sound composer, Roshan is a recipient of a 2023 Canada Council for the Arts grant. She is deeply involved in advocating for mental health and the arts - Roshan is on the Board of Governors for Lutherwood Canada, and she sits on the Board of Directors for the Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener + Area (CAFKA). Roshan studied at Queen's University and the Centre for Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto, and she holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from York University, summa cum laude. You'll find her on social media, most active on Instagram at @roshan_james.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My primary goal is to make art for community and public spaces to shape a more inclusive, compassionate world. I am currently focused on questions about identity, origin, cosmology, and entanglement.
In my studio, I experiment with deconstruction, balance, bold colours, textures, and simple, upcycled material. You can find examples of my work in my visual art online portfolio. Through the use of dramatic proportions and playful pairing of media, I convey my sense of wonder and remind myself that life here on Earth is small and temporary, but we are so much more. We are infinite energy embodied in everyday places, people, and things.
Similarly, through poetry, I play with words, phrasing, and simple juxtapositions to turn old ideas on their side. In music, I incorporate different textures of analog and digital sound to create meaning from chaos, producing ethereal soundscapes.
EDUCATION
Honours Bachelor of Arts, English Literature summa cum laude, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
Studied English Literature and Economics at Queen’s University; and English Literature and Philosophy at the Centre For Medieval Studies, University of Toronto
GRANTS & AWARDS
2023 Ontario Arts Council Grant. Exhibition Assistance, recommended by Gallery Stratford.
2023 Canada Council for the Arts Grant. Professional development for vocal training.
2022 Annual Juried Exhibition, ArtsPay. Honourable Mention Award for ‘Mythology.’
2022 Region of Waterloo Arts Fund Grant (Spring round). Peaceful Gathering Mural and Augmented Reality Gallery.
BOARDS & MEMBERSHIPS
Board of Directors, CAFKA, Kitchener, ON
Board of Governors, Lutherwood, Region of Waterloo, ON
Member of Grand River Artist Collective (formerly ArtsPay), Waterloo, ON
Member of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON
VISUAL ARTS, EXHIBITIONS & INSTALLATIONS
Art Gallery of Peterborough ‘seams & strata’ exhibition. Nov 23, 2023-Mar 17, 2024
2023 Homer Watson House & Gallery Annual Juried Exhibition. Nov 10, 2023-Jan 7, 2024
2023 Kissing Bridge Art Tour. Elmira, ON; Oct 21 & 22, 2023.
‘Building Bridges of Peace’ community art project - concept to realization. Multicultural Festival of Elmira. September 16, 2023.
2023 Globe Studios Show. Invited Artist, Kitchener; September 15 & 16, 2023.
Peaceful Gathering Mural and Augmented Reality Gallery. Downtown Community Centre, Kitchener; June 2023. Project funded by the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund, Spring 2022 round.
‘People of Colour’ and ‘Red Crane’ murals. Gaukel Block, Kitchener; May 2023.
‘Layers of Me’ and ‘Red Crane’ published in Issue 46.2, Room Magazine. June 2023.
‘One Asia, Many Cultures’ illustration. Created for the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) for Asian Heritage Month 2023
The Beasting 2023 Artist, Kitchener (April 2023). One of 23 artists participating in the blind collaboration.
Long Con Magazine - Issue #13. Art installation and written reflection about the experimental art installation titled, “Lost Generational Layers of Self, 2022.” (February 2023 onward).
Hearts, Arts & Healing Juried Group Exhibition. Featured seven participating artists. 44 Gaukel, Kitchener, ON, Jan 30-Mar 11, 2023.
ArtsPay Annual Juried Show & Sale. 44 Gaukel, Kitchener, ON, Nov 26 & 27, 2022.
‘Organisme’ solo exhibition. Neruda Arts, St. Jacobs, Nov 25-Dec31, 2022.
2022 Homer Watson House & Gallery Annual Juried Exhibition. Nov 11, 2022-Jan 8, 2023.
‘Akasha’ - Solo Exhibition, Mind’s Eye Studio & Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON - July 11-31, 2022.
‘Divergence’ - Solo Exhibition; Stratford Pride Community Centre, Stratford, ON - July 3-31, 2022.
‘Connexions’ - Group Exhibition; The Paris Bohemian Gallery, Paris, ON - June 15-September 15, 2022.
Virtual Artists UK - International Artists, Online Virtual Reality Exhibition, hosted by Robots of London, October & November 2021.
Artwork held in private collections Open for commissions.
BOOKS, PUBLICATIONS, SPOKEN WORD,
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES & ALBUMS
Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery. Commissioned Spoken Word Performance, Waterloo, ON; Nov 25, 2023.
University of Waterloo Art Gallery. Commissioned Spoken Word Performance, Waterloo, ON; Nov 25, 2023.
Black & Gold Gala, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery. Spoken Word Performance, Cambridge, ON; Oct 19, 2023.
Pink Moon. ECW Press, Toronto; September 2023.
World Poetry Day 2023 - City of Waterloo. ‘To Be Free’ selected as one of 11 Poems as part of the city’s celebrations on March 21, 2023.
International Women’s Day 2023. Spoken word performance for ‘Women Talking’ Film Screening, Princess Cinemas, Waterloo. March 8, 2023
‘Warm Love.’ Live Performance, 2023 ArtsPay Annual Show Reception. November 25, 2022.
‘Warm Love.’ Digital EP & Mixtape Community Art & Music Project. October 2022.
‘You Are The Magic.’ Live Performance. Neruda Arts mural unveiling. September 2022.
‘Spirit of Her.’ Live Performance. AKASHA Artist Reception, Kitchener, July 29, 2022
Breaking (2020). Available in-store and online at Words Worth Books, and through online book retailers.
Art of the Unknown (2018). Currently unavailable for online orders. Copies will be made available from time to time.
Poetry reading, Indigo, Toronto - 2018
Poetry reading, St. Jacobs, 2018
Poetry reading, FaithTech, CIGI Waterloo, 2017
Ignite Waterloo Speaker, June 2013
INTERVIEWS
HOWL 89.5FM - Valentino Assenza interview with Roshan James. Toronto, ON. Nov 21, 2023.
On the Scene Interview with Roshan James. Midtown Radio, Kitchener. October 5, 2023.
Pink Moon Toronto Launch & Live Interview with Aashay Dalvi (they/them), founder of Rad Riot Books. Queen Books, Toronto. September 20, 2023.
‘Roshan James on Creating Poetry & Awareness About Canada's Deadliest Terrorist Attack.’ Open Book. September 12, 2023.
‘All in a Day’ with Alan Neale. CBC Ottawa. May 10, 2023.
“'Women Talking': Local filmmakers host International Women's Day event in Waterloo.” Ward, Marshall. Waterloo Chronicle. March 2023.
“Artist 'mad science-ing' ahead of Organisme exhibition in Waterloo Region.” Ward, Marshall. Waterloo Chronicle. November 2022.
“AKASHA: Interview with Roshan James.” Brown, Glodeane. Culture Fancier. July 2022.
“Roshan James creates art encouraging re-examination of societal norms.” Burrowes, Colin. Wood-Stein Media, July 2022.
“Episode 139,” Bonn Park Podcast, May 11, 2022
“Paying it Forward.” Mangalaseril, Jasmine. The Grand Magazine: pages 44-47. Kitchener, ON. June 2021.
EXPERTISE
Nationally-recognized poet, spoken word artist, and sound composer
Visual artist – Mixed media, oil, acrylic, sculpture, photography, illustration, digital media
Classically-trained pianist - Royal Conservatory, Grade 8 practical and theory
Trained vocalist, coached by Emm Gryner and Mitch Seekins
20 years of experience in business strategy, governance, planning, reporting, and integrated communications and marketing
Brand strategy and creative concept development; writing and editing
Digital content creation and graphic design, including website layouts and augmented reality
Academic research; business data analysis and insights