Assistant Professor of Art History and Visual Studies

Job Title
Assistant Professor of Art History and Visual Studies


Requisition Number
FE04336


Working Title

Department Name
8X100:School of Art and Visual Studies


Work Location
Lexington, KY


Type of Position
Faculty


Position Time Status
Full-Time


Tenure Track Status
Tenure Track


Required Education

Ph.D.



Required Related Experience

N/A



Required License/Registration/Certification

N/A



Job Summary

The School of Art and Visual Studies at the University of Kentucky seeks applications for a full-time, regular title series, 9-month tenure eligible Assistant Professor in Art History and Visual Studies to begin August 2025. Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications received by January 10, 2025, will be assured full consideration.



The successful candidate will teach two courses per semester in art history, visual and material culture, and curatorial studies of the global south and mentor both undergraduate and graduate students in Art History & Visual Studies. Additionally, the hired faculty will be part of the team overseeing the growing Curatorial Studies MFA program with appropriate coursework, independent studies, mentorship of students, and administrative work. They will be expected to provide appropriate service to the school, college, and university.



The scholarly focus of the successful candidate will be the arts of one or more of the following regions: Africa, MENA, South/Southeast Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean, or Latin America. In addition to situating their work within a global, trans-historical, and/or cross-cultural perspective, they should be theory-minded, incorporating into their research and teaching critical studies on topics such as national identity, ethnicity, race, caste, class, gender, and/or sexuality; nationalism, colonialism, decolonization, globalization, migration, diaspora, and/or indigeneity; or contested and marginalized institutional histories. They will develop new upper division courses in one or more of the following areas: art histories of the global south, 1500 to present; global studies in visual and material culture; transcultural and diasporic artists; and/or provenance and curatorial practice, as these topics relate to the candidate’s area of expertise. The candidate will complement current faculty specializations and actively develop an interdisciplinary art historical practice that stresses innovation in scholarship and pedagogy. Projected distribution of effort is 50% teaching, 40% creative activity/research, and 10% service.



Candidates must hold a Ph.D. by the time of employment and at least two years of teaching experience at the college level beyond graduate school is preferred. We seek a productive scholar and effective teacher specializing in one or more of the regions of the global south specified above. Broadly defined curatorial experience is essential.



The School of Art & Visual Studies is one of the largest programs of its kind in the southeast. The school is a leading center for the production and exhibition of cutting-edge art and housed in a state-of the art building, which features a purpose-built exhibition & performance space. The school’s art gallery, working in close collaboration with our endowed Visiting Artists & Scholar Program and the UK Art Museum, is the focus of the Curatorial Studies MFA. For more information, please visit: https://finearts.uky.edu/savs


When prompted in the employment system, applicants will submit the following materials:

• Cover letter addressing your qualifications specific to this position

• Curriculum vitae

• Specific Request 1 – Research Statement

• Specific Request 2 – Teaching Statement

• Specific Request 3 – Two Course Syllabi

Please also include the names and contact information for three additional references when prompted in the application. This information may be used to solicit reference letters within the employment system and will not be solicited until applicants have achieved finalist status. Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Applications received by January 10, 2025, will be assured full consideration.



The University of Kentucky, College of Fine Arts thrives because we serve and honor individuals and communities with unique and distinct voices that embrace broad approaches to creative practice. The college welcomes all, seeking to make the arts both approachable and accessible, valuing the broadest possible range of experiences and perspectives, recognizing the personal and community benefits of belonging, and leveraging the unique power of the arts to bring people together while seeking to acknowledge, address, and rectify, inequality and access limitations. Artists and scholars with a broad range of backgrounds are encouraged to apply. As a member of the state’s flagship institution, we pledge to ensure that our campus is a place where differences are welcomed and valued, different perspectives are respectfully heard, and where every individual feels a sense of belonging in a strong artistic and academic community. Visit our website at: http://finearts.uky.edu

Employment at UK comes with various benefits that focus on the total well-being and career development and leadership striving to provide a strong and healthy work-life integration. The University generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit: https://hr.uky.edu/employment/our-benefits



Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?
No


Preferred Education/Experience

Deadline to Apply

Open Until Filled
Yes


Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we strongly encourage veterans, individuals with disabilities, women, and all minorities to consider our employment opportunities.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.