Amy Nygaard

Amy Nygaard is an Assistant Professor of Art History and Director of Museum Studies at the University of St. Thomas. Her work focuses on postcolonial aesthetics, South African art, and trauma-informed museum practices. She holds a PhD in Art History and the Humanities (2019) from an interdisciplinary program, with a dissertation examining trauma and violence in the works of Jane Alexander, a prominent South African artist.

Research interests include the intersections of trauma, post-apartheid culture, and museum collecting/display practices in South Africa. She teaches courses such as Art and Trauma, Ethical Museum Practices, and Tattoos as Punishment, emphasizing critical engagement with cultural heritage institutions.

Dr. Nygaard is committed to advancing trauma-informed methodologies in museums and heritage sectors. Her work interrogates how political rhetoric, whiteness, and historical trauma shape contemporary art practices and institutional frameworks. She directs the Museum Studies program, fostering ethical practices among students and professionals.