Amy Whitaker

Amy Whitaker is an Associate Professor of Visual Arts Administration at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She holds an MBA from Yale University, an MFA from University College London, and a PhD from Goldsmiths, University of London. Her research focuses on blockchain, AI, and creative equity in the arts, advocating for systemic approaches to democracy and climate challenges through art. She has authored four books, including Art Thinking and Economics of Visual Art, and her work has been featured in prominent media outlets like The New York Times and The Atlantic. Whitaker has taught at institutions such as the California College of the Arts and Rhode Island School of Design, and her career includes roles at the Guggenheim, MoMA, and investment firm D.E. Shaw & Co.

Whitaker’s academic and professional contributions span art market ethics, fractional equity models, and the intersection of technology with creative labor. She received the 2021 Edith Penrose Award for trailblazing research and the Sarah Verdone Writing Award. Her work emphasizes democratizing access to art through innovative financial and technological frameworks, such as blockchain applications for cultural heritage restitution and artist compensation.

• Education:
  • PhD in Political Economy (Goldsmiths, University of London)
  • MBA in Museum Management (Yale University)
  • MFA in Painting (University College London)
  • BA in Studio Art and Political Science (Williams College)
• Key Awards: Edith Penrose Award (2021), Sarah Verdone Writing Award
• Labs/Teams: Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the New Museum Incubator, Principal at Eggshell Knight (curriculum development)