(Volume II: Paris)
(Volume I: Berlin)
Projects
Contact
a retrieval of parts
smooth,
circular
rocks,
stones,
like ley lines,
like a pilgrim’s path
the totality of a blankness which once was full
The Last Knickerbocker in New York
the care is not a contingency
but as the clouds descended on us,
I could see you
Maitreya Ravenstar is a multimedia documentary artist and oral historian whose work takes the form of websites, publications, exhibitions, and films, using poetics to communicate the contingencies of truth often left out of nonfiction narratives. She seeks projects that highlight individual voices, the nuances of memory, and the context of place, leading her to the superimposition of perspectives and timelines to explore the mysticism of human relationships to each other and their environments. The undercurrent of her practice is a deep commitment to collaboration, and a belief that memory-work is a responsibility to use intergenerational wisdom to address the cyclical patterns present in our [times].
Maitreya graduated from Skidmore College (‘25) with departmental honors in a Self-Determined Major in Nonfiction Media Arts and nomination into Phi Beta Kappa. Her thesis, The Last Knickerbocker in New York, was one of 4 winners of the all-college Periclean Scholars Award, and also won a Golden Acorn. She was recently selected for the Oral History Summer Institute 2026 at Columbia University. Maitreya was a 2025 Storyteller’s Institute Fellow, and a recipient of a SEE Beyond Award, a Van DeWater Award, a DIS Slow Travel Grant, and the Skidmore Student Opportunity Fund twice. Her book but as the clouds descended on us I could see you was selected for Printed Matter’s Decolonization, Resistance, and Interconnected Solidarity table and was sold at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art in Melbourne, Australia. She is the co-founder of the artist interview publication SCEPTER, whose second volume is on view at Behind VA Shadows Gallery in Cambridge, MA.
Maitreya currently works for two multi-Emmy winning documentary production companies that create films centered around the environment and non-human world, Argo Films and Elemental Films. Though originally from below the welcome shadow of the Adirondack Mountains, she currently lives and loves in Brooklyn, NY.
maitreyaravenstar@gmail.com
@maitreya_ravenstar
CV:
Education:
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 2025
Bachelor of Arts (with honors) in Self-Determined Major of Nonfiction Media Arts, Minor in Studio Art
Overall GPA: 3.9 (A), Deans List, Phi Betta Kappa
DIS Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
January-May 2024
Richmond the American International University in London, London, UK
September 2021-May 2022
Awards, Grants, and Fellowships:
Storyteller’s Institute Fellow (2025)
Periclean Scholars Award for Senior Thesis (2025)
Phi Betta Kappa (2025)
Golden Acorn (2025)
Student Opportunity Fund grant, Skidmore College (2025; 2023)
SEE Beyond Award, Skidmore College (2024)
Van Dewater Award, Schick Gallery Juried Show (2024)
Slow Travel Grant, DIS Copenhagen (2024)
Audrey Longley Award, Richmond the American International University in London (2022)
Exhibitions, Screenings, and Distributers:
· SCEPTER Volume II, Behind VA Shadows Gallery, Cambridge, MA, 2026
· but as the clouds descended on us, I could see you, Printed Matter, New York, NY, 2024-present
· Unsaid, Unseen, Picture Lock One, Troy NY, 2025
· a retrieval of parts, Storyteller’s Institute Exhibition, Schick Gallery, Saratoga Springs NY, 2025
· The Last Knickerbocker in New York, Case Gallery, Saratoga Springs NY, 2025
· Looking Toward the free state of Transpendency—Curator, Tang Teaching Museum, Saratoga Springs NY, 2025
· Our Shared Acquiescence, Schick Gallery Juried Show, Schick Gallery, Saratoga Springs NY, 2025
· SCEPTER Volume I, Paper Moon, Troy NY, 2025
· SCEPTER Volume I, Tang Teaching Museum, Saratoga Springs NY, 2025
· The Undulation of a Clock Hand in November (2024!), Schick Gallery Juried Show, Schick Gallery, Saratoga Springs NY, 2025
· but as the clouds descended on us, I could see you, The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Australia 2024
· but as the clouds descended on us, I could see you, Printed Matter St Marks, New York, NY, 2024
· but as the clouds descended on us, I could see you, Schick Gallery Juried Show, Schick Gallery, Saratoga Springs NY, 2024
· And branches reach for each other, Inevitably, we;, Case Gallery, Saratoga Springs NY, 2023
Published Interviews:
· SCEPTER INTERVIEWS: 11 interviews with artists, 2024 and 2026
· WSPN Radio Station: Interview with Portland, ME Musicians Jeff Beam and Domonic Lavoie, 2025
· SHIFT BOOKS: Interview with Swan Collective [published on artist’s app Lexi.exe], 2024
· WSPN Radio Station: A Berlin Musician’s Persistent Connection to the Capital Region’s Hip-Hop Scene, 2023
· Tang Teaching Museum: Artist Interview with Alice O’Malley, 2022
Work Experience:
Impact Producer,
Argo Films, remote
March 2026-Present
· Conduct research on potential partners; organize outreach spreadsheets and correspond with partners
· Organize screening bookings, promotion and requests
· Manage company email
· Design assets for promotional material
Intern,
Elemental Films, New York, NY
February 2026-Present
· Community engagement/audience development research through various channels
· Outreach research and data entry for potential partners
· Pre-interview research and screening calls
Oral Historian and Co-Producer,
Hatricks Public Relations Limited, London, United Kingdom
December 2025-Present
· Prepare for and conduct bi-weekly oral history interviews with collaborator Kate Hawthorne
· Co-produce audio-visual project on the history of the jingle industry, with special interest in London in the 1970s using oral histories with Hawthorne as well as archive of Hawthorne's interviews with jingle industry figures
· Manage and organize project content and archive
· Edit and manage oral history transcripts
Co-Creator of Artist Interview Publication,
SCEPTER
June 2024-Present
· Research and reach out to artists to coordinate interviews
· Conduct 2-4 hour interview sessions with artists while collaborating on artworks
· Photograph interview sessions in documentary style as well as portraits of the artists
· Transcribe and edit interview transcripts
· Social media marketing and press outreach
Storyteller’s Institute Fellow,
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
May-June 2025
· Participated in group critiques and workshops
· Spent five weeks self-directing a nonfiction arts project
· Envisioned and executed an installation presenting my work on the project
Curator of Hyde Cabinet #28: Looking Toward the free state of Transplendency,
Tang Teaching Museum, Saratoga Springs, NY
March-July 2025
· Conducted research of museum’s archives, selected artwork that aligned with museums main show
· Research and wrote exhibition wall and web text, working with the head curator to ensure tone aligned with the museum
Designer and Editor of publication on Urban Renewal in Saratoga Springs, NY,
MDOCS and C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studios, Saratoga Springs, NY
January-April 2025
· Transcribed and pulled quotes from archival oral histories
· Selected archival media as well as documentation of recent restorative public art events for narrative in a publication on Saratoga Springs' history of Urban Renewal
· Designed layout of publication on InDesign
· Coordinated with C.R.E.A.T.E. Community Studio to adhere to their vision for the project
Cage/Print Room Assistant,
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
September 2023-May 2025
· Assisted students enrolled in digital arts courses with printing transparencies and with large-scale Epson printers
· Checked equipment rentals in and out and ensured all equipment was cared for, in place, and accounted for
Co-President,
Art Circle, Saratoga Springs, NY
September 2024-May 2025
· Planned and executed screenings, workshops, and the bi-annual Cabaret
· Presented screenings, interviewed visiting artists, led Q&As
· Designed promotional content such as posters and social media posts
Web Master/Social Media Manager,
WSPN Radio Station, Saratoga Springs, NY
September 2023-May 2025
· Redesigned the station’s website using WordPress, directing aesthetic layout and copywriting content
· Ran the station’s blog, outreaching to DJs and artists to send in articles and interviews, editing submissions, sourcing images for posts
· Led interviews of professional visiting musicians, editing transcripts into articles
· Designed social media posts, wrote copy for media, managed various media accounts
Intern,
SHIFT BOOKS, Berlin, Germany
June-August 2024
· Wrote copy forpress and social media, wrote and designed newsletters and various articles for the company’s website
· Organized archived photography for the Lost & Found project, learned photo editing techniques to ensure the order of photos displayed has a proper basis
· Shadowed meetings with photographer during preliminary book designing sessions, aiding in English translations for captions and organizing images for consideration of sequencing
· Researched author/artist for an interview, conducted interview, transcribed and edited interview for an article and app
· Attended the Rencontres d’Arles with company,with company and wrote article on experience
Student Ambassador for Sustainable Travel,
DIS, Copenhagen, Denmark
March 2024
· Created itinerary for sustainable travel to the Skåne region of Southern Sweden considering transportation, relationship to nature, and local community
· Photographed the weekend, and edited photos for publication
· Wrote summarized blog post on the weekend in the style of the company’s brand
News Assistant,
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Sept 2022-Oct 2024
· Wrote articles for the College’s Marketing and Communications Office by conducting research, interviewing individuals, and going into the field to provide first-person accounts
· Represented Skidmore as the photographer for events, considering lighting, angles, and subjects
· Attended weekly meetings in the office, consulting with different members of the team to acquire knowledge of different departments (ex. Video, social media)
Studio Assistant to Artist,
Evan Roth, Berlin, Germany
June-July 2023
· Aided in set-up of online shop, researched creation of products and art pieces, created mock-ups of album covers for upcoming record
· Restretched canvases, tested paint, sewed products, shot photographs of products
· Tested and documented various patterns for sculptures, created prototypes of sculptures
· Kept website up to date, created PDF of press, updated inventory list
Blogger,
IES Abroad, Berlin, Germany
June-July 2023
· Regularly wrote articles about first-hand experience interning abroad, traveling, and learning from a new culture
· Photographed relevant subjects to include in articles
· Designed layout of articles, wrote descriptions and alt text, uploaded images and writing onto IES Abroad blog
Assistant Literary Editor and Web Designer,
Lunchbox Magazine, Skidmore College
September 2022-May 2023
· Led editorial sessions with club members, prompting student suggestions, taking notes of comments, and compiling summaries for authors, created additional content for the magazine (ex. developed a visual flow quiz by collaborating with a member of the design team)
· Aided in creation of website, uploaded content to the website, kept the website up to date
Co-Creative Director of Business Window,
Saratoga Marketplace, Saratoga Springs, NY
October 2022
· Met with a representative of the business co-op to understand the goals for the window display
· Conceptualized and designed two options for the window, drew up sketches, generated mood boards
· Shopped for and created props, and set up the window to fit the needs and desires of the business co-op
Communications Intern,
Hatricks Public Relations, London, UK
January-May, 2022
· Researched various business tools for PR client, generating proposal documents presented to the client in meetings
· Prepared detailed minutes of a meeting with the PR company and the client
· Conducted in-depth research on the history of music from 43,000 years ago up to the 1920s for an upcoming documentary series and compiled it into a 1500 introduction
· Interviewed director of the PR company on her time producing for Sir George Martin (The Beatles) in the 1970s, running a London Newspaper (2011-2021) and her near-death experience with Covid. Transcribed 2-hour 17,000-word interview, edited into a 2,000-word feature
Co-President and founder of Richmond Art Society,
Richmond the American International University in London, London, UK
September 2021-May 2022
· Communicated with University to establish an art society after noticing a lack on campus
· Planned weekly meeting with themes, sourced art supplies, planned and hosted events, ran a stand at club fair
· Crafted social media posts, designed posters, photographed meetings
Gallery Assistant,
The Orleans House Gallery, London, UK
February-March 2022
· Assisted visitors with questions and anything they needed
· Watched over the galleries to ensure they remained well-kept and art was safe
· Familiarized myself with the current exhibitions
· Completed a series of training such as child safeguarding, research on the gallery, and an extensive company handbook
© 2026 M.R.