by alina bobrova

SHAAN KEN RAO is an inter-disciplinary artist born and based in New York City. He is half-Japanese and half-Pakistani. Shaan is halfway through his MFA (in Integrated Practices) at Pratt, and prior to that has earned a BFA (in Photography) from Parsons. He has an interdisciplinary practice that includes painting, photography, image/ink transfers, collage, and more. Shaan is currently part of a program at Eli Klein Gallery (398 West St, NY), which starts as a two month residency (July 21st-Sept. 16th) along with two other artists, and culminates as an exhibition from Sept. 17th-Oct. 17th, 2026. 

Shaan has had a solo show at each of All St Gallery’s two locations (77 East 3rd Street, NY and 119 Hester St, NY), and has taken part in group shows at the Millennium Film Foundation (167 Wilson Ave, Brooklyn), and at the Gala Art Center (15-08 121st St, Queens). Otherwise he has worked for various photographers; notably, Victoria Sambunaris, William Wegman, and Kenji Toma, doing things like assisting shoots, post processing/retouching, darkroom processing video editing, etc. Shaan is also the frontman of the band, DINHO DINHO, who have headlined classic New York venues like Mercury Lounge, Bowery Electric, Nublu 151, Nicki’s Unisex, Alphaville, and more (https://open.spotify.com/artist/5oKN0BL4kOjno9nNW1JfTk)