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Research

Postgraduate Study

As a Research Centre at Central Saint Martins, UAL, we support groups of researchers in a range of activities that extend beyond the remit of individual projects, creating an environment where debate can flourish, providing a sound foundation for future work.


MRes

Afterall Research Centre is closely linked to the MRes Art: Exhibition Studies pathway led by David Morris, Editor for Afterall’s Exhibition Histories series and Helena Vilalta.

MRes Art: Exhibition Studies is a postgraduate research course at Central Saint Martins that focuses on the history of contemporary art from the perspective of the exhibition form – analysing how artworks are encountered by publics, and shaped by display, discourse and critical reception.

Recent visiting lecturers have included Maria Tereza Alves, María Berríos, Elena Filipovic, Pablo Lafuente, Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt, Pablo Lafuente, Paul O’Neill, Gayatri Sinha, Kim West and many others.

The course, which lasts for two years and is taught three days per week, is directly tailored to individual interests and strengths, offering rigorous research training and a supportive environment for advanced study. For more information on the MRes Art: Exhibition Studies pathway please visit the Central Saint Martins website.


PhD

Afterall Research Centre supports doctoral candidates and enquiries will be welcomed by Adeena Mey and Elisa Adami.

UAL offers a range of theoretical and practice-based research programmes while Research Network UAL (RNUAL) brings together activities and lectures to help you get the most out of your research degree. For more information on PhD and MPhil study please visit the Central Saint Martins website.

Current research students

Sunil Shah (2020–)

‘Documenta 11 (2002) and Art’s Global Entanglement’ (technē funded), with Adeena Mey (Director of Studies), May Adadol Ingawanij (University of Westminster) and Lucy Steeds (Edinburgh College of Art)

Niloofar Taatizadeh (2020–)

‘Performance of gender and sexuality in 19th century Qajar Iran, and fluid-assemblages of contemporary queer-unmaking’, with Pat Naldi (Director of Studies), Alison Green and Elisa Adami

Vija Skangale (2021–)

‘Collective art practices in Georgia 1985–95: Collaborative strategies for addressing political trauma, historical memory and emergent post-Soviet national identity’, with Graham Ellard (Director of Studies, CSM), Nela Milic (LCC) and David Morris

Agnese Politi (2023–)

‘Situating Practices in the Decolonial Turn: How Art Institutions Can Think from a Counter-Hegemonic Perspective in the Context of Contemporary Western Europe’, with Adeena Mey (Director of Studies), Alison Green (CSM) and Catalina Mejia Moreno (CSM)

Abbie Vickress (2023–)

‘Pluralist Exhibition Design Methods: Using Interactive and Participatory Graphic Design to Decolonise Exhibition Displays in British Museums’, with Rathna Ramanathan (Director of Studies), Adeena Mey and Stephanie Sherman (CSM)