kanishk pandey is a writer, director, and exile. He believes that art must be in constant conflict with society to express the love that all beings deserve. He uses the label exile, inspired by the works of James Joyce as well as his own experience as a member of the South Asian diaspora, to describe a relationship with nationalism that is forever nomadic and critical. His work is unified by the belief that consciousness can only exist through dialogue and interaction, and that every living creature shares an unspoken connection. Therefore, he seeks to nurture a sense of community in his work. These are the core philosophies that guide his work, be it theater, film, fiction, or even scholarship. As long as he gets to connect with you.

kanishk is a graduate of NYU Tisch’s Dramatic Writing program and an alumni of Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writers Group. He has been recognized by institutions such as Synecdoche Works, O’Neill National Playwrights Conference, Austin Film Festival, and New York Stage and Film. He has had his playwriting supported by companies such as The Brick, SPACE on Ryder Farm, The Lark, Sanguine Theater, and Boomerang Theater, and his screenwriting developed by institutions such as The Layar Project. His play, PRISONCORE!, will debut as part of the Exponential Theater Festival in January 2025, and his other show,The Fate of the Online Cow, will debut in Spring of 2025 with Synecdoche Works. He co-founded the theater festival collective 3POP with Lauren Serafica, Sam Bell, Calla Selicious, and Dylan Meyerhoff, the Submerged Writers Group with Anthony Anello, Claire Greising, Lindsay Carpenter, and Andres Osario, as well as the theater development company, GIFTSHOP, with Katie Walenta. He is excited to be a 2024-2025 Van Lier Fellow at Rattlestick Theater.