Associate Professor of Contemporary Art History and Theory

University of Oxford - Ruskin School of Art

Location: 128 Bullingdon Road, Oxford OX4 1QP

The Ruskin School of Art seeks to appoint an Associate Professor / Professor of Contemporary Art History & Theory (APNTF), available from July 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. Associate Professor is the main academic career grade at Oxford with a focus on research and teaching. This is an exciting and dynamic post in which you will conduct advanced research, give lectures, classes and tutorials, supervise, support and examine students at undergraduate and graduate levels, and play a part in the leadership and administrative work of the School and College. This is a joint appointment with St Catherine’s College, where the postholder will be appointed to a Fellowship by Special Election.

Applications are invited from scholars of international stature with a commensurate history of publication, and a track-record of excellent teaching. The area of expertise is open within the field of contemporary art history and theory, including scholarship from or within Global Majority contexts, decoloniality and decolonisation, and curating. The successful candidate will be appointed to an Associate Professorship in Contemporary Art History & Theory, and to a non-tutorial fellowship at St Catherine’s College.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability to teach and supervise undergraduate and graduate students across a wide field of contemporary art history and theory, with the personal qualities required to motivate and enthuse students to develop their own academic interests, and the ability to guide research students.

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented in senior academic positions at Oxford.

To make informal enquiries about the post, please contact Dr Richard Sykes (richard.sykes@rsa.ox.ac.uk).

Applications for this vacancy are to be made online and you will be required to upload a supporting statement and CV as part of your application. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post, and detail a plan for research and publication in the first 3-5 years of appointment. Your application will not be considered without a supporting statement.

Placed On: 19th December 2025
Closes: 2nd February 2026
Job Ref: 183483