Martha Buskirk

Martha Buskirk is a Professor of Art History and Criticism at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly, Massachusetts, where she has taught since 1994. She holds visiting appointments in MIT’s History, Theory, and Criticism Program (2005, 2013). Her research focuses on art and law, intellectual property, and conflicts between proprietary control and public interest. She has also explored institutional and economic dynamics in contemporary art through her book projects and publications.

Education:

• B.A., Oberlin College
• Ph.D. in Art History, City University of New York, Graduate Center

Research Interests: Buskirk’s work bridges art history, law, and cultural studies. She examines how legal frameworks shape artistic authorship and public engagement, with a focus on contemporary art’s evolving objecthood and market dynamics. Her scholarship challenges traditional notions of permanence, originality, and institutional influence in art.

Awards & Fellowships:

• Radcliffe Institute Fellowship (2000-2001)
• Clark Art Institute Fellowship (2004, 2016)
• Henry Moore Institute Fellowship (2006)
• Guggenheim Fellowship (2015)

Teaching & Advising: Buskirk has mentored students through Montserrat’s Liberal Arts program but no specific advisees are listed. Her teaching emphasizes critical analysis of avant-garde practices and contemporary art’s socio-economic contexts.