Curriculum Vitae

Photo credit: Mathew McCarthy

BIO

Roshan James (she/her) is a Tibetan-Indian multidisciplinary artist, poet, and musician born in Scarborough, Ontario, living as a settler in the rural area north of Waterloo, Ontario. As part of the South Asian diaspora, Roshan’s research and experiments result in work that connects with themes of decolonization, identity, and healing. Embodied in her expression is anti-oppression advocacy and representation of marginalized, queer, and melanated voices to help dismantle colonial, capitalistic systems. Roshan is deeply involved in advocating for mental health and the arts, serving on the Board of Governors for Starling Community Services, and volunteering with the Waterloo Region Community Foundation. In 2023, Roshan was a recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts grant, focused on vocal development. 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, time, origin, cosmology, and entanglement.

My current studio practice involves creating large-scale, mixed media canvas work (larger than 5x5 feet). I experiment with deconstruction, balance, bold colours, textures, and simple, upcycled material. Through dramatic proportions and playful pairing of media, I tell visual stories about my lived experience and everything that I’m processing related to social justice. My sense of wonder, curiosity, and connection to nature are easily discernible in my artwork, and this is a way of reminding myself and others 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. In both poetry and music, I mix styles from lyric poetry to street style for a unique sound that is relaxing and grounded, with rhythm and energy that evokes ancestral connection.

EDUCATION

  • Honours Bachelor of Arts, English, graduated in top 3% summa cum laude, York University, Toronto, ON

  • Studied English Literature and Economics, Queen’s University; and English Literature and Philosophy, Centre For Medieval Studies, University of Toronto

  • Grade 8 piano, practical and theory, Royal Conservatory of Music

GRANTS & AWARDS

  • 2024 Ontario Arts Council Grant. Exhibition Assistance, recommended by Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener.

  • 2023 KW Oktoberfest Rogers Women of the Year - Arts & Culture Award Nominee.

  • 2023 Ontario Arts Council Grant. Exhibition Assistance, recommended by Gallery Stratford.

  • 2023 Canada Council for the Arts Grant. Professional development for vocal training with Emm Gryner.

  • 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.

RESIDENCIES

  • 2023-24 vocal residency with Emm Gryner, supported by a Canada Council for the Arts professional development grant.

BOARDS & MEMBERSHIPS

  • Board of Governors, Starling Community Services, Waterloo, ON

  • Arts Grant Fund Review Committee, Waterloo Region Community Foundation, Kitchener, ON

  • Member of the Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener + Area (CAFKA), Kitchener, ON

  • Member of Forest City Gallery, London, ON

  • Member of 10C Shared Space, Guelph, ON

VISUAL ARTS, EXHIBITIONS & INSTALLATIONS

  • 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

  • Spoken word performance. Poetry & Music Night. Willow River Centre, Kitchener, ON; May 25, 2024.

  • ‘Pink Moon Paint Night.’ The Festival of Literary Diversity. Peel Art Gallery, Museum & Archives (PAMA). Brampton, ON; May 2, 2024.

  • Spoken word performance. Pinch Cabaret in collaboration with Femme Folks Fest (Pat the Dog Theatre Creation) Button Factory Arts, Waterloo, ON; Mar 15, 2023.

  • ‘Soaring into Expression’ performance retreat with Emm Gryner. Riverwalk Commons, St. Mary’s, ON; Mar 1-3, 2024.

  • Spoken word performance. Preston Heights Community Group Mayor’s Dinner. Kinbridge Community Association, Cambridge, ON; Feb 29.

  • ‘Pink Moon: Author Interview & Poetry Open Mic,’ hosted by Roshan James and Aashay Dalvi. Forest City Gallery, London, ON; Feb 24, 2024.

  • ‘Roshan James & Friends’ Buzzie Indie Sessions Concert & Community Jam & Mixtape Project. Produced by Pat the Dog Theatre Creation. Registry Theatre, Kitchener, ON; January 29, 2024.

  • Commissioned Spoken Word Performance in response to Sharl Smith’s sculpture exhibition. Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery. Waterloo, ON; Nov 25, 2023.

  • Commissioned Poetry & Spoken Word Performance in response to Sharl Smith’s sculpture exhibition. University of Waterloo Art Gallery. 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.

  • Spoken word performance. Pinch Cabaret. Button Factory Arts, Waterloo, ON; August 19, 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

EXPERTISE

  • Nationally-recognized poet, spoken word artist, and sound composer

  • Visual artist – Mixed media, oil, acrylic, sculpture, photography, illustration, digital media

  • 20 years of experience in business strategy, governance, planning, reporting, integrated communications and marketing, brand strategy, and creative concept development

  • Digital content creation and graphic design, including website layouts and augmented reality