NYU’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute has named Hari Kondabolu, a Brooklyn-based, Queens-raised comic who has performed on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” among other shows, as its 2014-15 Artist-in-Residence.
“This residency at the A/P/A Institute at NYU will give me just the space and time I need to publicly workshop ideas I’ve had for years, but have not had the opportunity to explore,” explains Kondabolu. “These ideas include material for my stand-up act; essays and stories for publications, radio, or live performances; live and video sketches; and short films.”
Kondabolu has performed on “Conan,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “John Oliver’s New York Stand-Up Show,” and his own half-hour “Comedy Central Presents” special. A regular on the NPR-circuit, he has been featured on “Morning Edition,” “All Things Considered,” “Studio 360,” and “Fresh Air with Terry Gross.” He was most recently a writer and correspondent for the Chris Rock-produced FX show “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell.” Bell has described Kondabolu as “the comedy equivalent of a punk rock concert that breaks out at a human rights rally.” Kondabolu released his debut stand-up comedy album ”Waiting for 2042” on the indie-rock label Kill Rock Stars in March 2014.
Each year, NYU’s Asian/Pacific/American Institute hosts an acclaimed artist to hold residency on campus. Artists-in-Residence are invited to bring their notoriety, artistic work, and history of involvement with the Asian/Pacific American community to the university. The Artist-in-Residence uses his or her time at A/P/A to create important new work, artistic retrospectives, forums, or conferences. Scholars, fellow artists, and community members familiar or new to the artist’s work gain a unique opportunity to engage with the Artist-in-Residence within a university setting.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
A/P/A Institute aims to promote discourse on Asian/Pacific America defying traditional boundaries, spanning Asia, to the Americas, through the Atlantic and Pacific Worlds. It works to dispel socio-cultural and political misconceptions, provide cultural and scholarly connections, lead collections building, and encourage innovative research and interdisciplinary exploration. The Institute’s goal is to serve as an international nexus of interactive exchange and access for scholars, cultural producers, and communities from New York to beyond. For more, please visit http://www.apa.nyu.edu/.