research area

Art produced beyond its historic institutions

Birds eye view of Matt Lodder holding tattoo book

This research area interrogates objects of our shared visual and material culture that do not reside in museums or otherwise conform to our expectations about what constitutes an artwork.

We place strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches to studying such objects, which stems from our conviction that interdisciplinary enquiry allows us to better understand complex issues that have transformed the world at different historical moments.

Some recent examples of this strand of our work include Dr. Lodder’s 2017–2021 exhibition British Tattoo Art Revealed; the publications of Dr. Ruíz-Gomez on the intersection of art and medicine in 19th century France, and Dr Grindon’s research on role of art in forms of counter-cultural political activism.

Visit our members staff profiles for more information on their publications and works. You can also contact members of staff for information on research supervision opportunities.

Highlights of our research

Press

  •  An article in the Guardian features Matt Lodder’s research about tattooing.

Exhibitions

Related courses

Are you looking to study an art history degree at undergraduate, masters or PhD level? Explore some of the exciting courses below, or visit our subject areas to find out more about the degrees and modules that Essex has to offer. If you're not sure which subject is right for you, you can always search for a course. If you're looking for research opportunities, or to find a supervisor, you can use our research finder by searching for your research interests.

 

Explore our subject area