Jon Kolkin is an internationally respected photographer, author, speaker, humanitarian, teacher, physician, musician and president of the Shades of Compassion Foundation. Inspired by multiple audiences with the Dalai Lama, he engages in a range of compassion-centered initiatives worldwide.

In his role as a Physician and Integrative Medicine Health Coach, he was alarmed by what he perceived as misconceptions among some museum professionals about the role of compassion versus empathy in promoting social activism. This motivated him to champion groundbreaking photography exhibitions that invite reflection on practical strategies for navigating through life’s challenges while simultaneously safeguarding one’s health. He collaborates with curators, often incorporating pieces from their collection into exhibitions, and educators, creating complementary programs that target diverse audiences.

“Dr. Jon” was the lead organizer of the North American Summit, Fostering Compassion and Universal Ethics Through Museums, which brought museum professionals to India for a 3-day conference and private audience with the Dalai Lama. His book, INNER HARMONY: Living in Balance, has received four international book awards, and includes forewords by the Dalai Lama and Queen Mother of Bhutan. He also created the world’s only collection of palladium prints presented in the style of a Thangka painting.

Jon Kolkin has served on the faculty of Maine Media Workshops and frequently leads free photography workshops for non-profits in under resourced countries on Using Photography to Promote Your Organization. He also gives presentations to diverse audiences globally on a wide range of topics. (see ‘Seminars/Presentations’)

SOLO EXHIBITIONS: (Select)

2026

Seven Steps to Happiness, Tibethaus, Frankfurt, Germany

2024-5

Harmony in the Himalayas: Seven Steps to Happiness, Fo Guang Shan Museum, Toronto, Canada

2024

Harmony in the Himalayas: Seven Steps to Happiness, Haus der Religionen, Bern, Switzerland

2023

Sacred Heritage, Museo Camera, Delhi, India

Sacred Heritage, Estados Unidos Mexicanos Parliament, Mexico City, Mexico

Sacred Heritage, Tibet Museum, Dharamshala, India

2018

Feathers: A Singular Journey, Betty Ray McCain Gallery, Centre for the Performing Arts, Raleigh, NC

2017

Inner Harmony: Learning from the Buddhist Spirit, St. Louis University Museum of Art, St. Louis, MO

Inner Harmony, Nehru-Wangchuck Gallery, Embassy of India, Thimphu, Bhutan

2015

Inner Harmony, LTWA, Dalai Lama World Headquarters, Dharamshala, India

Inner Harmony, India International Centre Gallery with The Dalai Lama Foundation (FURHHDL), New Delhi, India

2014

Seeking Wisdom, Schwartz Centre for the Performing Arts, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Inner Harmony & Seeking Wisdom, Guang Ming Temple, Orlando, FL

Seeking Wisdom, Fo Guang Shan Temple, Raleigh, NC

Inner Harmony, The Mahler Fine Art Gallery, Raleigh, NC

2013

Inner Harmony, Carver Hill Gallery, Rockport, ME

2011

Equilibrium, Lumiere Gallery, Atlanta, GA

Dreamscapes, Elizabeth Moss Gallery, Portland, ME

Tide Pool, Louisburg College, NC

2010

Equilibrium, Carver Hill Gallery, Rockland, ME

Equilibrium, Through This Lens Gallery, Durham, NC

2009

Tide Pool, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC

2008

Tide Pool, David Weinberg Gallery, Chicago, IL

2007

Shrimp Boat, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC

Flower Glass Fusion, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC

GROUP EXHIBITIONS: (Select)

2024

Shades of Compassion, Amarillo Museum of Art

Shades of Compassion, San Juan Islands Museum of Art

2023

Shades of Compassion, Headley-Whitney Museum of Art, Lexington, KY

2021

Healing and the Art of Compassion, American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore, MD

Inner Harmony, Carver Hill Gallery, Camden, ME

2015

Feathers, The Contemporary Art Museum, RTP, NC

Inner Harmony, Joshua Tree Art Festival, Twentynine Palms, CA

2012

Seeking Wisdom, Carver Hill Gallery, Rockport, ME

Equilibrium, The Mahler Fine Art Gallery, Raleigh, NC

2011

Dreamscape, Walker Gallery, Denver, CO.

Dreamscape, Carver Hill Gallery, Rockland, ME

Handle with Care, Cabarrus Arts Council, Charlotte, NC

2010

Capture, Maine Museum of Photographic Art, Portland, ME

2009

Tide Pool, Photo Masters Group, Horace Williams Gallery, Chapel Hill, NC

Equilibrium, Under 1000 Exhibition, Lee Hansley, Gallery, Raleigh, NC

2008

Equilibrium, AD 20/21 with Bernard Goldberg Fine Art at the Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA

Argentina, David Weinberg Gallery, Chicago, IL

Equilibrium, Works on Paper International Exhibition, Park Avenue Armory with Bernard Goldberg Fine Art, NY, NY

Equilibrium, Under 1000 Exhibition, Lee Hansley, Gallery, Raleigh, NC

Equilibrium, #15 Exhibition, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC

2007

Sand Dunes, Under 1000 Exhibition, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC

Shrimp Boat, In Red, Durham Arts Guild, Durham, NC

BOOK AWARDS:

Inner Harmony: Living in Balance (teNeues/Hardback/Sept. 2021) with forewords by the 14th Dalai Lama and Queen Mother of Bhutan

PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, GOLD Metal, Best Photography Book by a Professional – People 2021

Tokyo International Foto Awards, GOLD Medal, Best Photography Book by a Professional – People 2021

Nautilus International Book Awards, GOLD Medal, Best Photography Book by a Professional – People 2022

International Photography Awards, SILVER Medal, Best Documentary Photography Book by a Professional – 2021

INITIATIVES: (select)

Shades of Compassion Foundation, President – 2021-present

“Fostering Compassion and Universal Ethics Through Museums: A Summit and Audience with The Dalai Lama”, Dharamshala, India 2018 – Lead Organizer

“North Carolina Statewide Universal Ethics Through Museums Coalition”, Co-Chair – 2018-2019

“Shades of COMPASSION”, traveling art exhibition – Co-Chair – 2021-2026

The Mayor’s Compassion Commission, Raleigh, NC – member – 2018-2020

“Man of Compassion: Stories of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama”, documentary film in collaboration with the Office of The Dalai Lama, Washington, D.C. 2020

PROJECT PARTNERS:

• Museum of Modern Art, senior educator
• Minneapolis Institute of Art, senior educator
• The Dalai Lama and His Representatives
• The Queen Mother of Bhutan
• Centre for Compassion-Based Ethics
• Charter for Compassion
• Centre for Compassion Integrity Training
• Shades of Compassion Foundation
• European Union
• Save the Children
• Health Volunteers Overseas
• Mexican Govt., House of Representatives
• Indian Embassy
• India International Centre
• Foundation for Universal Responsibility of the Dalai Lama
• Bhutan Foundation
• Tarayana Foundation
• Artwork Images and Movies
• Photokunst

PUBLICATIONS and PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS:

Monovision Photography Awards: Inner Harmony: Compassion (HM), 2021

Tokyo International Foto Awards: Inner Harmony (Silver) 2020

Monovision Photography Awards: Inner Harmony: Seeking Enlightenment & Inner Harmony: Culture Clash (HM) 2020

International Photography Awards (IPA): Inner Harmony (HM in 6 categories), 2020

International Photography Awards (IPA): Inner Harmony (HM in 4 categories), 2019

LensWork Magazine (#145), Feathers…Taking Flight in the Light, featured portfolio, 2019

LensWork Magazine (#135), Inner Harmony, Part II, featured portfolio, 2018

Pariyatti’s Burma Guide for Meditators, Myanmar 2015

Inner Harmony… Learning from the Buddhist Spirit, limited edition book, 2014

LensWork Magazine (#112), Inner Harmony, featured portfolio, 2014

B&W Magazine, Inner Harmony, portfolio award, 2013

NC Literary Review, online, 2013

HVO 25th International Photography Competition, 1st place & 3rd place, category – local scene, 2012

IASD International Conference, Berkeley, CA., featured portfolio, 2011

NC Literary Review, 20-year anniversary edition, featured portfolio, 2011

Maine Museum of Photographic Arts, 2010

Color Magazine, Equilibrium, Spotlight award, 2012

B&W Magazine, 2010

Color Magazine, 2010

B&W Magazine, x2, 2009

Camera Arts Magazine, featured portfolio, 2008

B&W Magazine, Dunescape, featured portfolio, 2008

Camera Arts Magazine, Tidepool, online featured portfolio, 2007

CORPORATE and MUSEUM COLLECTIONS:

• Bank of America
• Capital One
• Carter Center of International Peace
• Emory University
• Hospice of North Carolina
• Maine Museum of Photographic Arts
• Sony Studios
• 20th Century Fox
• Ritz Carleton Hotels
• Universal Studios
• American Cancer Society

SEMINARS/PRESENTATIONS: (select)

• Finding Joy: Scientific and Buddhist Perspectives, Fo Guang Shan Museum, Toronto, CA and other venues
• Being Respectful when Photographing in Unfamiliar Cultural Settings, Maine Media Photographic Workshops and numerous venues
• Don’t Tell Me to Meditate, numerous medical groups
• Practical Strategies for Living a Balanced Life, numerous venues
• Inner Harmony: Living in Balance, Book Talk, numerous venues
• Photography Competition Judge/Critique Sessions, numerous venues
• Compassion, numerous religious groups
• Life Balance for Museum Professions, Annual Southeastern Museums Conference, Louisville, KY
• Thoughtful Consideration on Science and Religion, Justice Theater, Raleigh, NC
• To the Himalayas and Beyond, Washington, D.C.
• The 3 M’s: Mindfulness, Mindset and Meditation, numerous venues
• Inner Harmony: The Path to Happiness, Universal Ethics Summit, Dharamsala, India
• Buddhism and the Balanced Life, India International Centre, New Delhi, India
• Medicine & Photography, Health Volunteers Overseas, International
• Finding Time for Photography: Strategies for Busy People, CLICK Photography Festival, Research Triangle, NC
• The Creative Process and Seeking Wisdom, Emory Creativity Conversation, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
• Strategies for Living a Balanced Life Among Healthcare Professionals, numerous medical groups
• Finding Time for Photography, Maine Media Workshops, Rockport ME: numerous groups
• The Impact of Wisdom & Equilibrium on our effectiveness as a Professional, numerous groups
• Creating a Photographic Body of Work, numerous venues
• Finding Balance… Buddhist Principles… An Artist’s Impressions, Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, Raleigh, NC
• Art and Personal Growth, Wenzhou, China 2012
• Finding a healthy balancing between one’s professional and personal life, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, numerous venues
• Finding a Healthy Balance between One’s Professional and Personal Life, numerous venues
• The Role of Art in Shaping Society”, Louisburg College, NC
• Beyond Medicine…Personal Growth
• Connecting with Your Core, Hospice 2010

PODCASTS and INTERVIEWS:

extensive (details available upon request)

EDUCATION:

Emory University, Bachelor of Arts, Chemistry (major), Arts (minor)

Emory University, Doctor of Medicine

Wake Forest University, Orthopedics

University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Hand & Upper Extremity

Duke University, Integrative Medicine Health Coach