Masoud Riyazati
Toronto-based Iranian Canadian multidisciplinary artist
Artist Statement
Masoud Riyazati is a multidisciplinary artist working in digital and film photography, filmmaking and Sound. His practice investigates identity and the human psyche within the transient nature of everyday life.
Present Projects :
2025 | January - February | What Matters, The Fredericton Playhouse, Fredericton Playhouse , NB
A group exhibition in collaboration with G44 and SiverFish Photography Collective, Questioning the political use of photography to raise awareness about what matters to us, both as individuals and as artists.
2025 - Fragments: a live performance of soundscapes, translating everyday sounds into a shared auditory experience.
Residencies :
2023 – Hart House Artist in Residence, Toronto, ON
Solo Exhibitions and Shows :
2025 - soundscape performances focused on raising environmental awareness through intentional listening. Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
2024 – Darkroom Alchemy: Immigration, A Journey of Identity Reconstruction, Pamenar ArtCafe, Toronto, ON
2023 – Darkroom Alchemy: Immigration, A Journey of Identity Reconstruction, Hart House, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Group Exhibitions :
Photography
2024 – Stand Up, Silverfish Photography Collective and Gallery 44, Toronto, ON
2023 – A Constant State of Change, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON
2023 – Blue, Gallery 44, Toronto, ON
2019 – People in the City, Valid Hall Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
2019 – Centered, Berlin Blue Art Gallery, Berlin, Germany
2019 – Memorable Portraits, Quick Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Awards :
2019 – Tea (Short Film), Official selection, University of Toronto Annual Film Festival
2019 – Terror (Photography), K.B. Jackson Award in Portraiture, Hart House Camera Club's 97th Contest
2018 – Clutter (Short Film), Winner of Best Experimental Film, University of Toronto Annual Film Festival
Music Projects :
Summer 2024 – Series of Music Jam Sessions, Hart House, University of Toronto
Organized and led sessions centered on intentional listening, teaching young musicians to connect with their surroundings.
Collaborative Music Experience – Various Dates
Collaborated with yoga and meditation studios to create live, healing music.
Performed ambient music at the Rest Space in Hart House, offering an immersive, calming experience.
Documentary Projects :
Icelandic Sheep Farm Documentary – Created a narrative project documenting life on a remote Icelandic farm.
Refugee Crisis in Turkey – Completed a photo and video project capturing the stories of refugees and sick children in Turkey.
Video Art :
2022 – Porous Surface, Larry Wayne Richards Gallery, Toronto, ON
2021 – Anxiety Questionnaire, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Toronto, ON
Theatre Production :
Roles include set design, lighting, sound design, music, and photography.
2018 – Angles in Iran, George Ignatieff Theatre, Toronto, ON
2018 – Angles in Iran, The Registry Theatre, Waterloo, ON
2018 – Dance of Torn Papers, Canadian Stage, Toronto, ON
2019 – Swim Team, The Theatre Centre, Toronto, ON
2020 – Sisyphus and Death, Alumnae Theatre Company, Toronto, ON
Film Projects :
2018 – Pendulum (Feature Film), Director of Photography’s First Assistant, Toronto, ON
2018 – Clutter (Short Film), Writer and Director, Toronto, ON
2019 – Birthday (Short Drama), Camera Operator, Toronto, ON
2019 – What Color Do You See as Blue (Short Drama), Director of Photography’s First Assistant, Toronto, ON
2019 – Tea (Short Film), Writer and Director, Toronto, ON
Education and Training :
2023 – Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Darkroom Printing – Mentored by father and self-taught
Workshops and Teaching Experience :
Guest Instructor, Hip-Hop Education Program at Hart House, Toronto, ON.
Photography Class Coordinator – Hart House, University of Toronto (2024 - Present) .
Organizes and leads classes on analog and digital photography topics.
Darkroom Instructor – Hart House, University of Toronto (2023 - Present) .
Conducts beginner to advanced workshops on film processing, printing techniques, and papermaking.
Three-Day Darkroom Techniques Course .
Intro to Processing .
Intro to Printing .
Cafenol developing .
Gum Bichromate printing .
Uneven Printing / Painting with Developer .
Photo Manipulation / Sandwich Effect .
Split-Grade Printing .
Skills :
Photography: Analog and digital techniques; advanced darkroom printing
Video Editing: Skilled in narrative and documentary editing
Sound Design: Sound recording, mixing, synthesizers
Software: Adobe Premiere, Photoshop, Lightroom, After Effects, Audition; Ableton Live; Final Cut
Grants :
2023 – Hart House Exhibition Production Grant
Publications :