Christopher Roberts

Christopher Roberts holds the Schiller Family Assistant Professorship in Race in Art and Design at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). He serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Theory and History of Art and Design and the Experimental Foundation Studies division. His research focuses on Black geographies of memory, port cities tied to the transatlantic slave trade, and critical engagements with monuments, archives, and museums. Roberts earned a PhD in Africology and African American Studies from Temple University and an MA in Ethnic Studies from San Francisco State University.

Education:

• PhD in Africology and African American Studies, Temple University
• MA in Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University

Research Interests: Roberts analyzes spatial and cultural entanglements of race and coloniality through Black Studies frameworks. His work bridges architecture, photography, creative writing, and art criticism to challenge historical representations in public and private spaces.

Awards:

• 2022–23 Frazier Award for Excellence in Teaching

Teaching & Mentorship: Roberts teaches across undergraduate and graduate levels in studio, lecture, and seminar formats. He coordinates RISD's First Generation College-Pre Orientation Program (FGC-POP) and mentors in the Project Thrive Program. As a guest critic in the Architecture department, he integrates creative assignments and critical dialogue to connect theory with student practice.