Masoud Riyazati
Toronto-based Iranian Canadian multidisciplinary artist
Artist Statement
Masoud Riyazati is a multidisciplinary artist working in digital and film photography, filmmaking, and music. His practice investigates identity and the human psyche within the transient nature of everyday life.
Upcoming Exhibitions and Projects
2024 - Guest Instructor, Hip-Hop Education Program at Hart House, Toronto, ON
2025 - Upcoming soundscape performances focused on raising environmental awareness through intentional listening.
2025 - Stand Up: Collaborative project by Silverfish Photography Collective and Gallery 44, featuring 24 photographers from across Canada.
Solo Exhibitions
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
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
Residencies
2023 – Hart House Artist in Residence, Toronto, ON
Created a solo exhibition exploring immigration and identity reconstruction.
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
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.
Education and Training
2023 – Bachelor of Arts, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
2023 – Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music, Berklee College of Music Online
2009 – Photography Diploma, House of Photographers, Tehran, Iran
Film Editing – Self-taught
Darkroom Printing – Mentored by father since age 15
Workshops and Teaching Experience
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
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
Grants
2023 – Hart House Exhibition Production Grant
Publications