Axel Andersson

Axel Andersson is a Senior Lecturer in Art History and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research at the Royal Institute of Art. He teaches in the Text Area, focusing on years one and two. His research explores Historiography, Colonialism, and the concept of Nature, with recent work on European post-war Exoticism, nuclear waste aesthetics, and deep time philosophy. He has authored five monographs, including Negative Geology (2021) and Absolut farmakon (2019), and co-edited Framtidens kritik (2018). Between 2016-2021, he led Kritiklabbet, a project investigating criticism in the digital age. His current project examines art and surplus.

• Education: Ph.D. in Art History from the European University Institute (2007)

Research interests span postcolonial theory, environmental philosophy, and cultural history. His work bridges art, science, and colonial legacies, particularly through analyses of body techniques, nuclear waste, and deep time narratives. He contributes to Swedish and international publications as an essayist and critic.

Publications include anthologies on art, colonialism, and criticism. His books explore intersections of aesthetics with environmental and colonial themes. He has no listed awards but is active in academic and editorial roles.

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, he oversees institutional research strategy. His advisory and grant activities are not detailed, but his editorial work with Kritiklabbet highlights his engagement with critical discourse in digital spaces.

He collaborates with interdisciplinary teams and is part of the Royal Institute of Art’s academic leadership, focusing on contemporary art and cultural critique.