Art Theory and Practice Appoints Influential Scholar

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev -- one of the world’s most influential figures in contemporary art -- has been appointed the Edith Kreeger Wolf Distinguished Visiting Professor, according to an announcement by the department of art theory and practice at Northwestern University. 

Christov-Bakargiev will be teaching in the department of art theory and practice for three consecutive fall quarters, beginning Sept. 1, 2013. In addition to her classes, Christov-Bakargiev will make one joint presentation for the department of art theory and practice and the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art each quarter she teaches, as well as participate in graduate critiques.

Christov-Bakargiev is a curator, author and researcher interested in historical avant-garde and contemporary art. Named the most powerful person in the art world in 2012 by Art Review’s Power 100 listings, Christov-Bakargiev was artistic director of dOCUMENTA(13) from 2008 to 2012, which took place in Kassel, Germany.

She has held workshops, seminars and exhibitions in Alexandria, Egypt; Kabul, Afghanistan; and Banff, Canada. Her stewardship of dOCUMENTA(13), considered to be one of the most intellectual and significant exhibitions in the art world, renewed one of the exhibition’s primal intentions to enlist culture as an agent of reconstruction, healing and dialogue. She also served as artistic director of the 16th Biennale of Sydney (2008) and Chief Curator at the Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art (2002-08).

Christov-Bakargiev was also a Senior Curator at P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center -- a MoMa affiliate in New York from 1991 to 2001. Her books include “William Kentridge” (1998), “Arte Povera” (1999), and for dOCUMENTA(13), the “100 Notes -- 100 Thoughts” series as well as “The Book of Books“(2011–12). Previous group exhibitions include The Moderns, Turin (2003), Faces in the Crowd, London and Turin (2004), Citta' Natura (1997), and Molteplici Culture (1992).