Bio
Diana Heise is a socially-engaged research-based artist working at the intersections of eco-feminism, performance and experimental lens-based image practices, committed to producing works that cultivate awareness, resilience and attuned regeneration.
I am a recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship in the Creative and Performing Arts, a Performance Art Fund Grant from the Franklin Furnace Inc. as well as a Presidential Fellowship at the American University in Cairo.
My work has been exhibited in galleries and festivals internationally, including the Brooklyn Museum, the Film Anthology Archives, Arte Laguna Prize at the Venice Arsenale, Oriel Myrddin Gallery in Wales, Cantor Art Center at Stanford University, and the Institut Français de Maurice, among others.
My films have screened at the New York Underground Film Festival, Ethnografilm Paris Film Festival, High Falls Film Festival, Big Muddy Film Festival, the Visible Verse Festival and Black Maria Film Festival, among others. I have participated in residencies at Anderson Ranch, Wassaic Project, Kala Art Institute, the Visual Art Center of New Jersey, Vermont Studio Center and ArteSumapaz.
I have spoken about my work at venues such as the Parsons School of Art and Design, Stanford University and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. My scholarly writing has been published in Ephemeral Coast from Vernon Press, Connecting Continents: Archaeology and History in the Indian Ocean from Ohio University Press and Global and Local Art Histories from Cambridge Scholar’s Press, among others.
I am a tenured Full Professor of Photography and Filmmaking at the Kansas City Art Institute. I hold a MFA in Photography, Video and Related Media from the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY and a BA in Art History from Vassar College.
I live and work in Kansas City, MO and North Hero, VT.
Statement
I use experimental lens-based and light-sensitive art practices to commune with and expand our understanding of the complex conundrums of living in post-industrial, assimilated societies, plagued by the threats of ecological imbalance. Drawing from definitions of radicality to define my notions of success, I use my creative practice to meditate on the root and fundamental aspects of the human and more-than-human condition in hopes of illuminating the qualities of our existence.
My process begins with deep observation of a particular community or activity. I research and have conversations with experts, while also employing aesthetic responses to form as a research methodology. This process generates a multi-faceted inquiry of the practices that we, as people, participate in and their cultural and social meanings. I am particularly sensitive to those who are situated in diminished status, such as women and environments, and use the work to cite their value beyond connotations as extractive resources. These reflections manifest as essay films, photographic installations, light sensitive collages, immersive videos, performances and books.
Through this work, I am asking people to look, even for a moment, a bit deeper at the ways we live, connect through their experience of the artwork and take that empathy with them. I make artwork to be experienced and lived with so we can grow our collective connectivity.
CV
Download my full CV here. Please find an abbreviated version below.
DIANA HEISE
Lives and works in Kansas City, MO and North Hero, VT
Education:
2005 School of Visual Arts, MFA-Photography, Video & Related Media, New York, NY
2001 Vassar College, BA in Art History, Poughkeepsie, NY
Selected Awards:
2026 Anderson Ranch Visiting Artist Resident, Snowmass, CO
2025 Fulbright Scholar Finalist to Canada (revoked by US State Department)
2025 Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship Nomination, Washington, DC
2024 Kala Institute Artist Residency, Berkeley CA
2023 ArteSumapaz Artist Residency, San Bernardo, Colombia
2023 Wassaic Project Artist Residency, Wassaic NY
2020 Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
2019 Outstanding Project Award, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City MO
Society for American Archaeology Book Award, Scholarly Category
2018 Wassaic Project Artist Residency, Wassaic NY
Finalist for Creative Capital Grant (second round
Residency at Open Wabi, Fredericktown, OH
2017 Social Practice Residency (invitation only), Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit NJ
Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
2016 Gold Sabre Award on Education for O Ti Le La La E, Ravann
Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
2015 On the Radar, Finalist for Creative Capital Grant
Residency at Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
2014 Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
Aided in successful dossier for UNESCO Inscription for Intangible Cultural Heritage
2013 Selected as Representative for Fulbright Alumni Ambassador Program
Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
2011 Recipient of U.S. Fulbright Grant in Creative and Performing Arts to Mauritius
Recipient of ArtsKC Inspiration Award, Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City
2010 Recipient of ArtsKC Inspiration Award, Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City
Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
2009 Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
Recipient of the Review Studio/The Studios Inc Residency, Kansas City, MO (until 2014)
2008 Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
2007 Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Development Grant
Franklin Furnace Fund Grant for Performance Art
Director’s Choice Award, Black Maria Film Festival
2002-2001 Presidential Fellowship at the American University in Cairo, Egypt
2001 Weitzel Barber Travel Art Prize, Vassar College
Solo Exhibitions/Screening/Performances:
2026 Days of Ethnographic Film Seminar, Ljubljana, Slovenia
2018 Images Flash, UMKC Gallery of Art, Kansas City, MO
2017 Oceans: Surface/Below, Oriel Myrddin, Wales (catalogue)
2016 Seeded, performance through with Ephemeral Coast, Le Morne, Mauritius
2016 O Ti Le La La E Ravann, Book Launch and Screening, Mauritius
2014 Lame La Kone (The Knowing Hand) Bagatelle, Beau Bassin, Mauritius
2013 Mwa, Twa, Nou. Me, You, Us. Mauritius, The Studios Inc, Kansas City, MO
2011 Take Only What You Can Give, Review Studios, Kansas City, MO
2009 Gut5: witness, Review Studios, Kansas City, MO
2006 Gut 4: claim, performed at Desoto Row Art Space, Savannah, GA
Home-made, Starland Contemporary Art Center, Savannah, GA
Selected Group Exhibitions/Screenings/Performances:
2027 Under Her Light, Pen + Brush, New York NY (curated by Emily Blair Quinn and Rachel Kaufman)
2025 The Mother and...Project, Leedy Voulkos Art Center, Kansas City MO (catalogue)
2023 Pollination Visions, Troost Gardens Gallery, Kansas City MO
2022 Walking in the Cosmos – Artists Interpreting Urban Reverence, Voelker Orth Museum, Queens NY
Urban Reverence, Valerie Goodman Gallery, New York NY and IW Gallery, Brooklyn NY
2021 Secret of the Friendly Woods, Wassaic Project, Wassaic NY
KCAI Faculty Biennial, Beautiful World(s), H&R Block Artspace. Kansas City, MO
2020 Charlotte Street Crossroads Artboards, Kansas City, MO
Arte Laguna Prize, Venice Arsenale, Venice Italy
2019 Ethnografilm Paris Film Festival, Paris France.
Lineage and Impact, Haw Contemporary, Kansas City MO
2018 As Far as the Heart Can See, Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts Project Space, New York, NY (curated by Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful)
2018 Kansas City Flatfile & Digitalfile, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
2017 People’s Climate Movement, Jupiter DIY, Kansas City MO
2016 Body-Mind Entente, UMKC Gallery of Art, Kansas City, MO
Edge Effects, (curated by Celina Jeffery) La Citadelle, Mauritius (catalogue)
2015 Women to Watch, Epsten Gallery, KS (curated by National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington DC) (catalogue)
National Music Day Celebration, ABAIM Center, Beau Bassin, Mauritius
2014 The Center is a Moving Target, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO (curated by Erin Dziedzic)
Connecting Continents, screening at Cantor Art Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
Digitalfile, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO (curated by SPECTRA)
Île Courts–International Short Film Festival, Mauritius
Kansas City Flat Files, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
2013 A cage went in search of a bird. Radiator Arts, Long Island City, NY (curated by Sarah Walko)
The role of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean World: an archaeological view. UCLA, LA, USA. (screened with lecture by Krish Seetah PhD)
The Mauritian Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Project: archaeological insights into Post-medieval labour diasporas. Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.
Historical archaeology on Mauritius: Colonial insights from the Indian Ocean World. The Society of Antiquaries of London, UK.
The Studios Inc Resident Group Show, Review Studios, Kansas City, MO
2012 Festival Enn, Institut Français de Maurice, Rose-Hill, Mauritius
Evening of Performance, Institut Français de Maurice, Rose-Hill, Mauritius (curated by Krishna Luchoomun)
Lontan Letan Ravann, ABAIM Center, Beau-Bassin, Mauritius
Review Studio Resident Group Show, Review Studios, Kansas City, MO
2011 The Voice that Reaches You IV, Cara and Cabezas Contemporary, Kansas CityMO
Visible Verse Film Festival, Vancouver Canada
Power. Drain - Journal of Contemporary Art and Culture. (curated by Avantika Bawa)
Narrow Margins: Kansas City Art Institute Faculty Biennial. H&R Block Artspace. Kansas City, MO
The Studios Inc Resident Group Show, Review Studios, Kansas City, MO
2010 15th Annual Juried International Exhibition, Soho20 Chelsea Gallery, New York, NY (juried by Phong Bui)
Review Studio Resident Group Show, Review Studios, Kansas City, MO
2009 Lust for Life, Cinemazzurro, Ancona, Italy (curated by Piero Pala)
Review Studio Resident Artist Group Show, Review Studios, Kansas City, MO (curated by Kathy Dowell)
D.U.M.B.O. Art Under The Bridge Festival, DUMBO Art Center, Brooklyn, NY
5th annual Videokemp, Festival of Contemporary Video Art, Prague, Czech Republic
I am a Video, Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, LA (curated by Alisoun Meehan)
2008 PsychoGeography, Drain - Journal of Contemporary Art and Culture (curated by Celina Jeffery PhD), virtual exhibition
New-Three, H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
2007 Brooklyn Arts Council 41st Int’l Film & Video Festival, Brooklyn Museum,Brooklyn,NY
New York Underground Film Festival, Film Anthology Archives, New York, NY
Big Muddy Film Festival, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
Black Maria Film Festival, Various national venues including the Des Moines Art Center and Trustees Theatre Savannah, GA
2006 Small Works. Red Gallery, Savannah, GA (curated by Erin Dziedzic)
High Falls Film Festival, Eastman Kodak Theatre, Rochester, NY
Monster, performed at Starland Contemporary Art Center, Savannah, GA (curated by David Everitt Howe)
Starland Video Expo II, Desoto Row ArtSpace, Savannah, GA (curated by Ryan Brennen)
Selected Press:
2025 “5 art exhibits in Kansas City you should catch this fall” KCUR, Oct 2025
“The Mother and... Project” Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, KC Studio, Sept 26, 2025
Podcast Interview for The Mother and... Project
2023 Interview, Millerton News, Millerton NY
2019 Interview with Joe Bussell, Wassaic Project Gazette
Inclusion in Kemper 25th anniversary catalogue
2018 Documentary Program on O Ti Le La La E Ravann, MBC 1, National Television, Mauritius
2017 “Oceans: Surface/Below”, Buzz Magazine, June 23,
Ellen, Bell. “A Culture Defined by what is discards: Art for the Anthropocene.” Planet Magazine, Issue 227, July
2016 “Abaim rend hommage à la ravanne”, Business Magazine, 30 August,.
“Livre ‘O tile la la e Ravann’, Cote Nord, September/October, .
“O ti le la la e Ravann | ABAIM,” Kozé Magazine culturel mauricien Sept 19
Fateema Capery, “La Ravanne ‘conçue pour durer’, Le Defi Quotidien, 30 August
Norbert Louis, “Instrument de Musique: Sofe Ravanne”, Le Mauricien, 28 August
“O ti e la la e: hommage au sega roots”, Koze, August
“Patrimoine ‘ABAIM nous livre la ravanne’, L’Express,15 August, .
“Edge Effects, Mauritius: L’homme face à l’idée des équilibres naturels,” Weekend Scope, 14 August,
Fateema Capery, “Une Femee Une Passion, ‘Moursia Bouvery, La passion des autres’, La Defi Quotidien, 11 August.
Caroline, Assy-Sohun, “ Abaim ‘La ravanne: symbole de délivrance”, L’Express, 8 August
“O ti le la la e ravann”, Radio Moris, 6 August
“Art Contemporain : Au chevet des côtes défigurées,” LeMauricien.com, 6 August,
TV interview, MBC and Canal Plus, August 2, 2016
Radio Interview, Radio 1, August 1, 2016
“Edge Effects, Mauritius: Modulation de l’espace de création”, LeMauricien.com, 31 July 2016
“Edge Effects, An Ephemeral Coast : Culture et nature,” LeMauricien.com, 29 July, 2016
“O ti le la la e ravann ‘Quand la Ravann va à la rencontre deson peuple’, Sunlights WeekEnd, 24 July, 2016.
“Art Contemporain—Cinq artistes se penchent sur la désagrégation des côtes,” LeMauricien.com, 16 July
2015 ABAIM _ Dessine-moi une ravanne _ L’express, 17 November, 2015
Norbert Louis, “ABAIM - LIV RAVANN : L’écriture musicale traditionnelle.” Le Mauritian, 28 June, 2015.
Liz Cook, “At the Epsten, ‘Women to Watch’ questions nature,’ The Pitch Magazine, 3 March, 2015.
C.J. Janovy. “At The Epsten Gallery, KC’s ‘Women To Watch’ Venture Into Dangerous Terrain,” KCUR, 5 Feb 2015
2014 Khalid Atchia, “DIANA HEISE : Faire raisonner la culture” Scope, 25 June, 2014
“TRANSMISSION : Diana, James et Abaim !” Le Mauritian, 27 June, 2014.
Rajmeela Seetomonee. “Lame La Kone: Le documentaire dédié à la ravane séduit.” Defi Media, 26 June 2014.
Miguel Hermelin, Interview, Radio 1 with Alain Muneean, Port Louis, Mauritius, 24 June, 2014.
Stephane Chinnapen, “ABAIM: Dessine-moi une ravanne,” L’express, 23 June,
Linzy Bacbotte, Television interview, MBC, Beau Bassin, Mauritius, 21 June,
Eloise Adolphe, “Ravann pou partaz nou leritaz.” Scope, 18-24 June 2014.
Norbert Louis, “Patrimoine Musical.” Le Mauritian Weekend, 18 June 2014.
Rajmeela Seetomonee. “Diana Heise : Définir la ‘kréolité.’“ DefiMedia, 17 June
“Patrimoine musical: la ravanne revient en force.” L’express, 16 June 2014.
“Abaim: Quatre dates autour de la ravane.” DefiMedia, June 2014.
Liz Cook, “At Kemper at the Crossroads, there’s no place like home,” Pitch, June
Alice Thorson, “Kemper at the Crossroads exhibit highlights Kansas City artists’ vigor and invention,’ Kansas City Star, 6 June, 2014.
Alicia Eler, “Meditations from the Middle,” Hyperallergic, 2 May 2014.
Alice Thorson, “A global view of regionalism,” Kansas City Star, 3 April, 2014.
Sarah Walko, “Trinocular Vision, Mini Mona Lisa’s and the Perfect Drug: Seeing the Unseen.” Drain, 1 March 2014.
2013 Theresa Bembnister, “Group Shows at Paragraph and Studios Inc. under the microscope,” The Pitch Magazine, 23 January, 2013.
2012 “FESTIVAL ENN: “Valer nou kiltir” à travers la musique,” Scope, 29 Nov. 2012.
“FESTIVAL ENN: Un grand départ,” Le Mauricien, 13 Dec, 2012.
“Performance Artistique: Une expérience de transposition,” Le Mauricien, 22July,
Nobert Louis, “Rencontre: Diana Heise, l’interaction entre l’art, la société, l’histoire,” Le Mauricien, 8 July, 2012.
“Centre Abaim, à Beau-Bassin: Le parcours initiatique de la ravane exposé.” Le Mauricien, 2 July 2012.
“ABAIM: Revinn à enn linstriman otentik.” Le Mauricien, 30 June, 2012.
Nobert Louis, “La Vidéo de Recherche : Diana Heise, ces mémoires-là,” Le Mauritian, 24 June 2012.
Interview on National Music Day, Radio 1, 21 June, 2012.
“Exposition - Quand la ravanne nous est contée,” Defi Media, 19 June, 2012.
An Xiao, “Art World Road Trip: Kansas City,” Hyperallergic , 7 February, 2012.
Theresa Bembnister, “Studios Inc. keeps its own company,” Pitch, 25 Jan
2011 Sarah Walko, “Convulse: Exploring the Healing Powers of Shaking,” Hyperallergic, 15 November, 2011.
Nick Malewski, “A good “FIT” at Review Studios,” Kansas City Star, 26 January, 2011.
2009 Chris Packham, “Review Studios’ Resident artists justify their existence.” Pitch Magazine, 17 December 2009.
2008 Nick Malewski, “Art Review | New, Three,” Kansas City Star, 17 Sept, 2008.
Publications as Author
2022 Diana Heise. “The Sea We Make” Ephemeral Coast, Celina Jeffrey, ed. (Wilmington, DE:Vernon Press, 2022).
2018 Diana Heise and Martin Mhando, “Interdisciplinarity as Image: At the Intersections of Historical, Heritage and Media Approaches in the Indian Ocean World.” Connecting Continents: Archaeology and History in the Indian Ocean. Richard Allen and Krish Seetah, eds. (Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2018)
2016 Diana Heise and ABAIM, O Ti Le La La E, Ravann. Mauritius: ABAIM, (Print + DVD)
2008 “Review of William Pope.L’s Kansas City exhibition Animal Nationalism at Grand Arts,” Review Magazine, Oct 2008. (Print)
2007 “Can I Be Slovene Too?” Global and Local Art Histories. Ed. Celina Jeffery and Gregory Minissale. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholar’s Press, 2007. 269-282. (Print)
Selected Lectures and Discussions:
2026 Anderson Ranch Visiting Artist Series
2025 Panel talk + Podcast. The Mother And... Project. Leedy-Voulkus Art Center, Kansas City
2024 Artist talk, Michigan State University.
2021 Artist talk, Michigan State University.
2019 Ethnografilm Film Festival, Paris France, April 20
2018 Artist talk and docent education presentation, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City MO. June 4
Artist talk and exhibition discussion, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO. May 23.
“Fulbright Arts Awards: Suitability, Feasibility and Outcomes.” CAA Annual Conference. February 23.
Images Flash, UMKC Gallery of Art, Kansas City, MO. January 28.
2016 Film Screening Discussion, Launch of O Ti Le La La E Ravann, Port Louis, Mauritius
2015 Artist Talk, Epsten Gallery, Overland Park KS, 5 February.
2014 “Lame La Kone (The Hand that Knows): Mauritian Frame Drums, Diasporic Community Development and Uses of Image to Engage Cultural Heritage in Mauritius,” Music, Politics, and Violence in Africa, panelist, African Studies Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN, 22 November.
Guest Critic, Critique Night, Plug Projects, Kansas City, MO, August 28.
Panel Discussion, Crossroads Conversations, in conjunction with The Center is a Moving Target exhibition, Kemper at the Crossroads, Kansas City, MO, April 19.
“Lame La Kone (The Hand That Knows): Frame Drum Fabrication, Traditional Know-how and Community Development in Mauritius,” presenter, sponsored by Stanford University Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, Connecting Continents: Case Studies from the Indian Ocean World Conference. Stanford University, CA, 7 March.
2013 Artist Talk, The Studios Inc, Kansas City, MO, 14 September.
2012 Lecture, Festival International Kreol, Le Bocage International School, Moka, Mauritius,
Lecture and Studio Visits, Mahatma Gandhi Institute, Moka, Mauritius, 28 August
Lecture, Embassy of the United States, Vacoas, Mauritius, 17 July.
2011 Lecture Presentation, “Asking Questions: Place,” H&R Block Artspace, Kansas City, MO
Lecture/Presentation, Current Perspectives Lecture Series, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO, 22 September.
2010 Lecture/Presentation, Faculty Development Grant Presentations, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO, 6 October.
2009 Lecture/Presentation, Faculty Development Grant Presentations, Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO, 19 October.
2008 Lecture/Presentation, Slide Talk Lecture Series, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO, 12 November.
Lecture/Presentation and Gallery Walk, in conjunction with New, Three: Kansas City Art Institute Faculty,” Artspace, Kansas City, MO, 19 Sept
2007 Visiting Artist Lecture/Presentation and Studio Visits, New School University, Parsons School of Design, New York, NY. 11 May.
Panel Discussion, Brooklyn Arts Council Film and Video Festival, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY, 5 May.
Panel Discussion, New York Underground Film Festival, Film Anthology Archive, New York, NY, 29 March.
Question and Answer, Black Maria Film Festival, Trustees Theatre, Savannah, GA