
Jagdeep Raina (b. 1991, Guelph, Ontario, Canada) has an interdisciplinary practice that spans drawing, textiles, writing, and, more recently, video animation, film and ceramics. In his work, Raina engages with personal and public archives to examine histories of transnational migration by considering them in the context of fluctuating infrastructures of power. Raina’s practice works to conceptually disrupt this fixity and recover heterogeneity. In doing so, the artist reactivates the archive to reveal hierarchies of power that play out across class, gender, caste, race and geography.
Raina was one of the recipients of the 2020 Sobey Art Award. He earned his BFA from Western University in 2013, his MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2016, and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2017. He has exhibited internationally at Midway Contemporary, Minneapolis (2019); Art Gallery of Guelph, Guelph (2019); Cooper Cole, Toronto (2019); Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton (2018); Rubin Museum of Art, New York (2018); RISD Museum of Art, Providence (2017); Humber Galleries, Toronto (2017); Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown (2017); Camden Arts Centre, London (2016); and Modern Fuel Artist Run Centre, Kingston (2016). Raina lives and works in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Jagdeep Raina
Soft Opening, Piccadilly Circus Station
Jabeen's face darkened, as whispers of imperialism slipped from her mouth, and then the screen faded to black...where are we going?, 2017
Mixed Media on Paper
Jagdeep Raina
And I’m standing here in awe, tasting the labour, this hardfelt labour to allow us to see the beauty of your ecological Mississauga-Punjabi baghs humbly grow Part II
And I’m standing here in awe, tasting the labour, this hardfelt labour to allow us to see the beauty of your ecological Mississauga-Punjabi baghs humbly grow Part II, 2019
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
The curious pause on that broadway day
The curious pause on that broadway day, 2017
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
Standing in front of you now, one wonders the sheer magnificance and grace in which you pioneered our history
Standing in front of you now, one wonders the sheer magnificance and grace in which you pioneered our history, 2017
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
My love letter to the four of you. From slade to southall pulling back the majestic illusion of central London to uncover a corporate spread of oligarchy and loss, and the journey of truth and unconditional love the outskirts can provide
My love letter to the four of you. From slade to southall pulling back the majestic illusion of central London to uncover a corporate spread of oligarchy and loss, and the journey of truth and unconditional love the outskirts can provide, 2017
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
Dancing to make room for the truth
Dancing to make room for the truth, 2017
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
The terraced streets of Glasgow: driving past
The terraced streets of Glasgow: driving past, 2016
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
The terraced streets of Glasgow: driving past (2)
The terraced streets of Glasgow: driving past (2), 2016
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
The terraced streets of Glasgow: Jabeen’s home in this moment
The terraced streets of Glasgow: Jabeen's home in this moment, 2016
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
Factory Grind
Factory grind, 2016
Mixed media
Jagdeep Raina
Dear Kala Preet, you heart-wrenchingly poured your heart out for us. From girls on their bikes in 1988 to young youth in 2016, you are still here
Dear Kala Preet, you heart-wrenchingly poured your heart out for us. From girls on their bikes in 1988 to young youth in 2016, you are still here, 2016
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
Attentions mates! Why is our paki nationality not an outdated concept?
Attentions mates! Why is our paki nationality not an outdated concept?, 2017
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
To stand there and smile
To stand there and smile, 2016
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
The guitar solemnly strung, and life on the Broadway went on
The guitar solemnly strung, and life on the Broadway went on, 2016
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
A tangible expression (Part 2)
A tangible expression (Part 2), 2017
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
A tangible expression (Part 1)
A tangible expression (Part 1), 2017
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
My mother and my chachis beautiful solidarity
My mother and my chachis beautiful solidarity, 2019
Embroidered tapestry and Punjabi phulkari border on muslin
Jagdeep Raina
I promise
I promise, 2019
Embroidered tapestry and Punjabi phulkari border on muslin
Jagdeep Raina
Everything I wish you had told me
Everything I wish you had told me, 2019
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina
You migrate, we migrate, you displace, we displace
You migrate, we migrate, you displace, we displace, 2019
Mixed media on paper
Jagdeep Raina Phiran
Phiran, 2019
Embroidered tapestry and Punjabi phulkari border on muslin
Jagdeep Raina Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost, 2019
Embroidered tapestry and Punjabi phulkari border on muslin