LEAH DYJAK is an artist, photographer, and filmmaker whose work combines performance, labor, film, and photography to explore how generations of human use affect the ecologies of place. Dyjak’s photographs, site-specific installations, and films often push the edges of perception. Their work challenges our understanding of perceived boundaries and explores the breach of those boundaries due to climate change. Their current work and research are being conducted in disappearing lands in Southern Louisiana with a specific focus on infrastructure failure and the attempted control of the Mississippi River.
Dyjak received their MFA from the University of Texas at Austin. They are currently a director of photography on a docu-series created by writer, director, and producer Joey Soloway in addition to other projects. Their work is in multiple private collections and has been acquired by the Archive of Documentary Arts at Duke University. In 2022 they received the prestigious Howard Foundation Grant through Brown University to fund their documentary film, As we play god. Recent publications include The Architectural Review, London UK, and The Leonardo Journal of Art and Science, MIT Press. Dyjak is represented by the Schoolhouse Gallery in Provincetown Massachusetts. Leah is working on a feature-length documentary about rising water, failing infrastructure, and coastal restoration projects along the Gulf Coast.
Solo* and Two Person Exhibitions
2021 Flood Plane, 159 Sutton, Providence, RI
2019 Base Camp, Cage Match Project, Austin, TX*
Hope Sail, Gravy, Philadelphia PA*
2018. Force Majeure, Flex Space, San Marcos, TX*
Unexpected Change, Higgins Gallery, Hyannis MA
2017 New Beach, Schoolhouse Gallery, Provincetown MA
2016 Coastliners, Pump Project, Austin, TX*
Gathered Clay with Angel Oloshove, Companion Gallery, Austin, TX
2012 Last Summer at Boo’s House, Dwell Costal Gallery, Provincetown, MA*
2009 Thin Lines, Dirty Truth, Northampton, MA*
2008 Thin Lines, Hope and Olive, Greenfield, MA*
Thin Lines, Vermont Center of Photography, Brattleboro, VT*
Group Exhibitions
2021 Breaking Point, NARS Foundation, New York, NY
2020 95th Annual Print center Exhibition, Print Center, Philadelphia PA
2019 Echos, The Front, New Orleans, LA
2018 From Underfoot, Blue Star Contemporary, San Antonio, TX
Fade Away and Radiate, Schoolhouse Gallery, Provincetown MA
2017 To Be Honest, Harvey Meadows Gallery, Aspen CO
2016 Art by the Pound, MoHA, Austin, TX
In the Wake, Houston Center of Photography, Houston, TX
2015 Agree to Disagree, MFA Thesis exhibition, Visual Art Center, Austin, TX
Parallels, RISD Gallery, Providence, RI
2014 Surface Tension with artist from Royal College of Art London, Pool, Austin, TX
AMoA, Museum of Human Achievement, Austin, TX
2013 Reach Festival Film Festival, EastWorks Galleries, Easthampton, MA
2007 Alumni Exhibition, Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, MA
40 Years of Continuing Education, Bakalar Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art Boston, MA
2006 Make Use, Senior Thesis Exhibition, Presidents Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, MA
Education
2015 MFA Studio Art, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
2006 BFA Photography, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
Awards and Scholarships
2022 Howard Foundation, Photography Fellowship, Brown University, RI
2021 me&Eve Project Development Grant, Center Photographic, Santa Fe, NM
NARS Foundation, Artist in Residence, New York, NY
2020 Faculty Research Grant, Alden Research Lab, Holden MA
2019 Djerrassi Fellowship, Woodside CA
2017 Resident Scholarship, Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown MA
Tending Space Fellowship, Herma Foundation
Excellence in Teaching Nomination, Texas State University
2016 Anderson Ranch, Artist in Residence Fellowship
2015 Society for Photographic Education, Conference Scholarship, New Orleans, LA
Travel Grant, College of Fine Arts, University of Texas, Austin TX
2014/15 Russell Lee Presidential Fellowship in Photography, University of Texas, Austin, TX
2014/15 Nowlin Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Photography, University of Texas, Austin, TX
2013/14 Wells, Fleming, and Demming Fellow, Austin, TX
2013 Travel Grant, University of Texas, Open Engagement, Social Practice Symposium, Portland, OR
2012/13 David Bunting Fellow, University of Texas, Austin, TX
2010/11 The Fine Art Digital Print Workshop, International Center for Photography, New York, NY
2009 el Viejo Residencey, Solola Guatemala (four months)
Haystack, Residency Scholarship, Deer Isle, ME
2008 Cone Editions Workshops, Scholarship recipient, East Topsham, VT