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Biography

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We are Refugee

2016

Deo Rai
Bhutanese-Nepalese-American

Deo Rai is a material-based visual artist whose life and work are rooted in his unique experiences. He was born in Bhutan and raised in a refugee camp in Nepal for more than two decades before moving to Des Moines, Iowa. Deo's artistic style has been greatly influenced by his upbringing. As a child, he began with still life, portraiture, and landscapes, but eventually began experimenting with abstraction using various mediums. His work is deeply personal and reflects his childhood memories and life experiences in the refugee life in Nepal to the United States. Deo pursued a degree in the field of art and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Northern Iowa, Postbaccalaureate, and MFA program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). Currently living and working in both Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois, Deo continues to push the boundaries of his creativity and inspire others with his unique perspective. His art has been exhibited in various galleries and venues, and he uses it as a means of expressing his deepest thoughts and feelings to explore complex themes, ideas, stories, and emotions.

Resume

Resume

Deo Rai
Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois.
 
Education

2022     -             The School of the art institute of Chicago (MFA)
2020     -             School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Post Baccalaureate)
2019     -             University of Northern Iowa (BFA)
 
Teaching experience
                
Fall 2022       –     Teaching Assistant, PTDW 3002-003: Ptg Std B: Exploding paint                                                     with Claire Ashley

Spring 2022   –     Roving Substitute Teacher, PTDW multi-level Figure Drawing,                                                             Multi-level studio drawing, Advanced Painting studio.

Spring 2022   –     Teaching Assistant, PTDW 3001-004: Painting studio A: Multi-level                                                   with Anne Harris

2005 to 2013 –    Art Manager and Art instructor at the Institute of Fine Art and                                                         Commercial Art Bhutan (IFACA Bhutan), drawing in various media,                                                   watercolor, acrylic, and oil color paintings to the Bhutanese                                                             Refugees in Nepal.

2006 – 2008 –     Art teacher, Calligraphy, Drawing in different media, watercolor paintings to the                                 Bhutanese Refugee Children.
 
Group Exhibitions
 
2024  --               Sunne Ghar Series 1st - 8th Series
2024. --                Sunne Ghar 7th Series 'Let the Color Speak", New Bethlehem, Pittsburgh 
2023   ---              MFA Group Show, Chicago, Illinois
2020   –              Post Baccalaureate Student Show, Chicago, Illinois
2019   ---              BFA show, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
2019   ---              Mystic Echoes (group performance Paintings with poetry and Nepali                                                 instrument Sarangi) Buffalo,  New York
2018   ---               "Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition". UNI Cedar Falls, Iowa
2018   ---               "Who Cares?" The University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa.
2018   ---               Cedar Valley Biennial Art Exhibition. Waterloo, Iowa
2017   ---               Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition, UNI cedar falls, Iowa
2016   ---                “Anne Frank Project” (Buffalo State University)
2014   –               “4th National Art Exhibition”, Nepal Art Council Building, Babarmahal,                                             Kathmandu Nepal 
2013   ---               “Initiation” printmaking group exhibition, Park Gallery, Kathmandu Nepal
2012   ---               “The Breath of Refugees", Beldangi Refugee Camp, Nepal
2010   ---                “The Life Under the Shadow”, Sanischare Refugee Camp, Nepal
 
Grants and Honors
 
2022 Spring  ---       Recipient of Smith, Grace/Walter Grant
2022 Fall      ---       Recipient of Smith, Grace/Walter Grant
2020-2021   ---       Recipient of the George/Isabel Brown Scholarship
2020            ---       Recipient of 2021-2021 “Graduate Incentive Award.”
2018            ---       Earned the UNI Department of Communication Studies Merit Award.
 
Skills

Drawing        ---      Pencils, charcoal, pastel colors, any medium.
Paintings        ---      watercolor paintings, Acrylic paintings, Oil paintings, Encaustic paintings,
                           Casein paintings, Thangka paintings, Spray paints, Mixed media.
Prints             ---      Wood Cut, linocut, Etching, Monotype, Lithography, Screen Prints,                                                   Image transfers
Sculpture       –      Mold making, wood bending, metal wildings,
Ceramics      –      Terracotta, earthen were, raku firing

Photography, Video making, Free letter writing (Caligraphy) on Nepali and English alphabets.

Work Experiences

Founder of  TAG Group, https://www.threatartgroup.com/,
and also the Founding member of Sunne Ghar, which organizes quarterly programs to share the stories, which has already compiled the seventh series and eight on the way.

Movie

-- Art Director, Movie "The Snow is Singing", 2024 - 2025
​
-- Assistant Art Director, Movie “Desh khojdai Janda" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIQopcFbcq4)  Movie based on the true story of Bhutanese Refugees, 2013

Books

-- Illustrator on Book “Prakash Angdembea ka Rubaiyat” Ratna Pustak Bhandar, Kathmandu Nepal, 2013

-- Cover painting and illustrator in Book “Jun Harayea ko Raat” Shrasta Chapakhana, Damak, Nepal, 2007
 
Collection
Sculpture, Square Box, Steel, Rock and wood, University of Northern Iowa, Kemerick Art Building Lawn, Cedar Falls, IA

Contact

Thanks for submitting

Thank you for contacting me, I will be in touch with you soon.

-Deo

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