Kannetha Brown is a Cambodian-American photographer from Providence, Rhode Island. Her mother and grandmother are refugees of the Cambodian Genocide (Khmer Rouge Regime), and her grandfather was a military official under Prime Minister Lon Nol. Her work explores intergenerational trauma, and lived histories of survival and kinship in her local community. Her analog practice re-contextualizes the Khmer Rouge’s oppressive photographs, and resists the erasure of Cambodian heritage caused by the Khmer Rouge, and amnesia about America’s involvement.
Her exhibitions include the National Cambodian Heritage Museum (Chicago, 2025), the University of Iowa (2025), and Rochester Institute of Technology (New York). She has lectured at Leica (Boston), Brown University and Bryant University. Her awards include; a Citizen Citation from the Mayor of Providence, the Demers Language Fellowship from the Rhode Island Foundation, and an Andy Warhol Foundation Grant from Interlace. Her clients include the New York Times, Rolling Stone, and the University of Massachusetts. She earned her BFA in Photography from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she received numerous awards for her interdisciplinary research.
contact: kannethasphotos@gmail.com
instagram: @kannetha.brown
blog: kannethabrown.com/blog
Upcoming Events
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Upcoming Events 〰️
March: Artist Talk - Leica, Boston, MA
March: Big Camera Show - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
April: Portraits of Asian American Experience - Bryant University, Lincoln, RI
April: Jeffrey Jin in conversation with Kannetha Brown - Grid Gallery, Providence, RI
May: YEAY YAI: an ode to grandmothers - Photographic Resource Center at Lesley University, Boston, MA
Sept: A Familial Stranger - Providence Public Library, Providence, RI
Oct: Idioms of Distress - AS220, Providence, RI
Nov: Kannetha Brown and Raphael Pech - National Cambodian Heritage Museum, Chicago, IL
CV
Education
BFA Photography, Departmental & Academic Honors, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
Selected Awards
2025: Long List, Booooooom Photo Awards
2025: Beatrice S. Demers Language Fellowship, Rhode Island Foundation
2024: Citizen Citation, Mayor of Providence
2024: Certificate of Recognition, Kun Khmer International Federation
2024: Interlace Project Grant, Andy Warhol Foundation
2023: Micro Grant, Providence Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism (ACT)
2023: Highly Commended, JUST Art Award, The SHIM Social Justice Network
2023: Morton R. Godine Fellowship, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
2023: Up Next Photographers, Diversify Photo
2023: Micro Grant, AS220 via Providence Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism (ACT)
2023: Scholarship, New England Portfolio Review (presented by the Photographic Resource Center and Griffin Museum of Photography)
2023: Micro Grant, What Cheer Writers Club
2023: Grant, Office of Justice, Equity, and Transformation, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
2023: New York Portfolio Review (presented by New York Times, Photoville, and Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism)
2022: Public Art Installation and Grant, Providence Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism (ACT)
2022: Shortlist, Project Grant, Women Photograph
2022: 6 of the Best Asian American Photographers in 2022, The Phoblographer
2022: Micro Grant, The Womxn Project
2022: Global Competence and Intercultural Understanding Award, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
2022: Scholarship to Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
2021: The 11 Best Commercial Photographers in Providence, Peerspace
2021: Gertrude Kasebier Photography Prize (juried by Farah Al Qasimi), Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Selected Solo + Two Person Exhibitions
2025: Kannetha Brown and Raphael Pech, National Cambodian Heritage Museum, Chicago, IL
2025: A Familial Stranger, Providence Public Library, Providence, RI
2025: Kannetha Brown and Tarik Bartel, YEAY YAI: an ode to grandmothers, Photographic Resource Center at Lesley University, Boston, MA
2025: Portraits of Asian American Experience, Bryant University, Lincoln, RI
2024: Kannetha Brown and Tarik Bartel, YEAY YAI: an ode to grandmothers, City Hall, Providence, RI
2024: AAPI Mobile History Museum, The Cambodian American Journey, Brown University, Providence, RI
2024: Photographs of Rhode Island’s Cambodian Community, Brown University Center for Students of Color, Providence, RI
2023: Two Oceans: Asian Americans in Providence, AS220, Providence, RI
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025: Idioms of Distress, AS220, Providence, RI
2025: Big Camera Show, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
2025: New Voices, Warwick Center for the Arts, Warwick, RI
2024: When I Get Home, WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI
2023: Homecoming 2022 & 2023 Biennial (sponsored by FujiFilm), Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2023: Pictures and Progress: MassArt Photo Alumni Exhibition, Doran Gallery, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
2023: Take up Space: Spatial Justice Art Exhibition, The Cordial Eye Gallery, Hyannis, MA
2023: Edward M. Bannister National Exhibition (juried by Krista Scenna), Providence Art Club, Providence, RI
2022: Who We Are Now, Providence Department of Art, Culture, and Tourism, Providence, RI
2022: Community Invitational, Providence Art Club, Providence, RI
2021: GRRL Telephone II, GRRL HAUS CINEMA, Berlin, Germany
2021: El Salón, Take Space, Jean McDonough Arts Center, Worcester, MA
2021: 100 Visions of Motherhood, The Luupe (Virtual)
Selected Lectures and Symposiums
2025: Panel - Jeffrey Jin in conversation with Kannetha Brown, Grid Gallery, Providence, RI
2025: Artist Talk - Leica, Boston, MA
2025: Panelist - Innovation Design Experience for All (IDEA) Symposium, Bryant University, Lincoln, RI
2024: Artist Talk - Bryant University, Lincoln, RI
2024: Artist Talk - Kannetha Brown and Tarik Bartel, YEAY YAI: An Ode to Grandmothers, Providence, RI
2024: Speaker - Center for Students of Color, Brown University, Providence, RI
2023: Artist Talk - Sophomore Photography Studio, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
2023: Artist Talk - Photography Internship Program, WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI
2024: Speaker - Andy Warhol Interlace Grant Award Ceremony, Providence College, Providence, RI
2024: Artist Talk - Residency Program, Creative Reuse Center, East Providence, RI
2024: Panelist - Creating a Piphp Thmei (New World Order): Reflecting the Cambodian American Imagination for the Future,Urban Khmer Ballet/Sokai Yoon (password: X89+@qJC)
2024: Panelist - WaterFire Accelerate Fellowship Program, WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI
2023: Panelist - Two Oceans: AAPI Artist Panel, AS220, Providence, RI
2023: Speaker - Celebrating AAPI Heritage, PechaKucha, Providence, RI
2023: Panelist - Who We Are Now, Public Art Installation and Grant, Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism (ACT), Providence, RI
2023: Artist Talk - Billboard Project, The Womxn Project Education Fund, Providence, RI
2023: Panelist - 5 Alive, Curiosity and Co., Jamestown RI
2021: Speaker - The Importance of Analog Preservation, Archive Remix Film Festival, Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, RI
Selected Press and Publications
2025: It’s Nice That - Kannetha Brown explores family, trauma and survival
2025: RI News Today - Warwick exhibition celebrates emerging artists
2024: Turn to 10 WJAR - Photographers honor Southeast Asian grandmothers through Providence City Hall art gallery
2024: Andy Warhol Foundation - Interlace Grant Fund Announces Recipients of 2024 Project Grants for Visual Art Projects
2024: New England Art News - Work(s) of the Week: Tarik Bartel and Kannetha Brown at City Hall
2024: Insight Into Diversity - Photoshoot at Bryant University Celebrates AAPI Heritage
2024: Bryant University News - Worth a thousand words: AAPI photo project celebrates diversity, community and sharing stories
2024: ArtScope - Providence Art Club’s Third Annual Community Invitational Exhibition
2023: WaterFire - WaterFire Announces the 2023-2024 WaterFire Accelerate Cohort
2023: Woo by ITV - Striking Photos Capturing the Cambodian American Community Outside War
2023: The Library of Congress - Celebrating AAPI Community Archives
2023: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Campus News: Announcing the 2023 Student Award Winners
2023: Artist in Providence - Two Oceans: Kannetha Brown
2023: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Planet Woo recently interviewed MassArt photography alumna Kannetha Brown
2023: Khmer Renaissance - AAPI Khmer American Spotlight: Kannetha Brown
2023: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Career Development: Kannetha Brown, Intern at Rhode Island Historical Society
2023: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Campus News: The Importance of Resources in Pursuing a Photography Degree
2022: City of Providence - City of Providence Unveils New Large-Scale Portrait Project “Who We Are Now”
2022: Turn to 10 WJAR - Providence unveils 5 portraits to be displayed throughout downtown
2022: The Phoblographer - 6 of the Best Asian American Photographers in 2022
2021: Peerspace - The 11 Best Commercial Photographers in Providence
2021: Very Good Light - 11 Gen-Z Asian American Photographers Capturing the Complexities of Being AAPI Today
Fellowships and Residencies
2023: Residency, Graduate Hotel, Providence, RI
2023: Fellowship, WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI
2023: Fellowship, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
Public and Private Collections
Providence Department of Art, Culture, Tourism (ACT)
Lyssa Palu-Ay - Dean: Office of Justice, Equity, Transformation, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Rachel Stern - Assistant Professor of Photography, Union College
Clint Baclawski - Adjunct Professor of Graduate Studies and Associate Director of Technology, Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Mel Taing - Adjunct Professor of Photography, Simmons University
Teaching
2024: Guest Critic - Photography Internship Program, WaterFire Arts Center, Providence, RI
2023: Paraprofessional Instructional Aid - Sophomore Photography Studio, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston, MA
2023: Instructor - Cyanotype, Providence Recreation Department, Providence, RI
2023: Instructor - Analog Activism, Curiosity & Co., Jamestown, RI
2022: Instructor - Large Format Photography, AS220 Youth Apprenticeship Program
2022: Guest Critic - Media Arts, AS220 Youth Apprenticeship Program
2022: Instructor - Film Photography and Cyanotype, Graduate Hotel Residency, Providence, RI
2021: Teaching Assistant - Studio Foundation: Visual Language, Massachusetts College of Art & Design, Boston, MA
Curatorial
2025: Kannetha Brown and Raphael Pech, National Cambodian Heritage Museum, Chicago, IL
2024: Raphael Pech, Sabaidee Fest, Chino, California
Work
2024 - Present: Image Specialist - iolabs, East Providence, RI
2023 - 2024: Gallery Assistant - Providence Art Club, Providence, RI
2023: Media Arts Shop Lead - AS220, Providence, RI
2023: Photography Cage Monitor - Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Providence, RI
2021: Film Archivist Intern - Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, RI
Full CV available upon request.