Alistair Rider

Dr. Alistair Rider is a Senior Lecturer in Art History at the School of Art History, University of St Andrews. His research focuses on 20th-century North American and European art, with emphases on sculpture, environmental humanities, and durational art practices. He has authored monographs on Carl Andre and James Howell, and his work explores ecological and materialist perspectives in art history. Rider is actively involved in environmental humanities research networks, examining how materials in late-twentieth-century sculptures reflect global resource flows. He teaches and supervises doctoral students in related fields.

• Education: PhD in Art History, University of Leeds (2005)

Research Interests: Rider’s work bridges sculpture studies with environmental critiques, examining how artworks engage with ecological systems and material histories. He investigates durational art’s capacity to represent ‘living’ forms and the collective dimension of artistic creation. Recent projects explore sculpture’s materiality as a lens for understanding global trade networks.

Publications: Rider has contributed to journals like Art History and Parallax, with publications analyzing artists such as Roman Opalka, Jeffrey Rubinoff, and On Kawara. His work often bridges art theory with socio-historical contexts, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.

Activities: Rider has organized and participated in academic events, including a 2012 lecture with Manfred Mohr on algorithmic art and a 2015 seminar on Richard Long’s topographies. His activities highlight engagement with contemporary art discourse and public scholarship.