Art History Residency

We are delighted to announce that James Hellings has accepted the 2021 Art History Residency from the Association and the Ampersand Foundation. This follows the news that the former recipient, Rebecca Gill, is no longer able to undertake the residency having recently been awarded a post doc.

Gregory Perry, Association for Art History CEO, says “we are very pleased to hear that Rebecca has been named one of the new Post Doctoral Researchers in Classical Architecture at the University of Cambridge, and we wish her the very best in this three-year post.  We are equally pleased that James is able to step in and take advantage of our Residency.   His  and Rebecca’s applications were most compelling, and we are happy to know that the programme will help to support his book on Theodor Adorno.”

The residency, which was launched in 2020, offers a researcher the opportunity for concentrated time to further their work in the quiet Derbyshire countryside. It will run from October 2021 to January of 2022.

James Hellings is Lecturer in Art, Programme Director of Art and History of Art, and co-Director of the research Centre for Film Aesthetics and Cultures (CFAC), at the University of Reading. Originally an artist, James worked in the Department of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum before taking his MA and PhD in contemporary art theory at Goldsmiths College, University of London. James researches Marxian-inflected histories and theories of modern and contemporary art. James’ first monograph, Adorno and Art: Aesthetic Theory Contra Critical Theory, was published by Palgrave in 2014. His second monograph, Adorno and Film: Thinking in Images, is under contract with Bloomsbury. James writes widely on modern and contemporary art and visual culture, including relational aesthetics and social practice. James is currently writing about the work of Hito Steyerl, John Akomfrah (and Black Audio Film Collective), Ryan Trecartin and Lizzie Fitch, Harun Farocki, and Alexander Kluge.

On being offered the residency opportunity James is delighted to accept this fantastic award and opportunity. He said that the Association for Art History Residency is a chance to dedicate much needed hours to researching and writing his second monograph. He is looking forward to reading and writing, thinking, and walking in the Derbyshire countryside.

The Association for Art History is pleased to be working with the Ampersand Foundation to offer this unique opportunity to a researcher in our field.  The residency speaks to the heart of the mission of the Association to advance the study and practice of art history.

James will be invited to give a lecture at the University of Nottingham on completion of the residency.