Assistant/Associate Professor, Contemporary Art History (1980-present, open geographic focus)

The Art History Program in the School of Art & Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (https://art.illinois.edu) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor of Art History, with specialization in contemporary art (1980-present, open geographic focus). In addition to maintaining an active research program, the successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses on contemporary art with a global perspective, introductory courses in art history and visual culture, and upper-level seminars in their areas of expertise. We will prioritize candidates whose work expands the program’s methodological and geographic scope, and we especially encourage applications from those who engage with topics such as gender and sexuality, queer and trans theory, race, postcoloniality, decoloniality, diaspora, migration, Indigeneity, and ecology. Candidates whose research includes a curatorial practice are welcome. Responsibilities include a 2/2 teaching load (two courses per semester), mentorship of students at all levels, supervision of Ph.D. dissertations and M.A. theses, and contribution to the vitality and administration of the program, school, and university.

The Art History Program currently consists of seven full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty members, plus affiliated faculty. Degrees offered include the B.A., B.F.A, M.A., and Ph.D. The Program works closely with studio-art, design, and art-education programs in the School of Art & Design, as well as collaborating with colleagues in the Krannert Art Museum and the Spurlock Museum. Faculty are often affiliated with other units and interdisciplinary centers on campus, such as the Center for African Studies; Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies; Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies; Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies; Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity; European Union Center; Holocaust, Genocide, and Memory Studies; Humanities Research Institute; Illinois Global Institute; Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies; Russian, Eastern European, and Eurasian Center; and the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory.

About the College of Fine and Applied Arts

The College of Fine and Applied Arts (FAA) is singular in the nation for its diversity, innovation and breadth. Its mission is dedicated to the advancement, practice, and understanding of the arts, and its central focus is the synergy between research and the preparation of students for professional careers in the creation and interpretation of the environmental, visual, and performing arts. Deeply related to that focus is the commitment to elevate and sustain the study of the arts as both a necessary mode of understanding and a vibrant expression of human experience within the local, national, and international communities.

The college comprises the Schools of Music , Architecture, and Art and Design; Departments of Dance, Landscape Architecture, Theatre, and Urban and Regional Planning; the Sustainable Design program; Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; Krannert Art Museum; and Japan House. This unique constellation of academic, research, and cultural institutions creates exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across the arts, design, technology, culture, and the built environment.

FAA employs more than 660 faculty and staff members, including more than 150 tenure-system faculty, and serves more than 1,850 undergraduate students and 635 graduate students enrolled across more than 30 majors and 10 minors. The College provides a vibrant environment for innovative teaching, scholarly inquiry, creative practice, and public engagement, making it an ideal setting for advancing the future of industrial design education, research, and professional practice.

Qualifications

Required: A Ph.D. in Art History or a related field (for example, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Latin American Studies, Media Studies, etc.) by the start of the appointment is required. The successful candidate will have an active and innovative research program and demonstrated capacity to teach courses on contemporary art for art-history, studio-art, and design students, as well as to mentor M.A. and Ph.D. students in art history. Candidates applying at the Associate level should have a strong record of publication and an ongoing research program.

Preferred: Research and teaching expertise that expands the program’s methodological and geographic scope is preferred.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals with demonstrable commitments to equity and social justice through teaching, research, and/or community engagement, and a reflective approach to transforming the discipline with respect to inclusion and anti-racism. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds who bring experience working with under-represented and underserved communities and traditions.

Institutional Context

The University of Illinois is an internationally recognized research and educational institution located in Urbana-Champaign, a vibrant university community within driving distance of Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. With the nation’s third largest research library, the University supports faculty as active researchers in the humanities, arts, sciences, and engineering through opportunities for funding and vital cross-disciplinary exchange in the campus’ many institutes, centers, and initiatives. These include the Siebel Center for Design, Campus Research Board, the Illinois Program for Research in the Humanities, the Center for Advanced Study, the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, and numerous other specialized centers. Additional collaborative opportunities include Krannert Art Museum and the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, each a respected international hub for innovative scholarship and public engagement.

For more information, please visit https://illinois.edu/ for the University, https://faa.illinois.edu/ for the College, and https://art.illinois.edu for the School of Art & Design.

Salary and Appointment Information

This is a nine-month faculty appointment (paid over 12 months). The anticipated start date is August 16, 2027.

The salary range for the Assistant Professor position is $76,000-$85,000 and the salary range for the Associate Professor is $92,000-$105,000. We strive to provide a competitive salary, considering factors such as available market data, internal equity, candidate’s experience and qualifications, and budget constraints.

Sponsorship options. This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.

Application Procedures and Deadline Information

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on December 1. Apply for this position using the “Apply Now” button in the job posting at https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload the following items:

1. A letter of application
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Scholarly writing sample
4. List of three references – online application will require names and contact information for three references.

Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact FAA HR at FAA-HR@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.