Benedict Burbridge

Prof Benedict Burbridge is a Professor of Visual Culture (Art History) at the University of Sussex's School of Media, Arts and Humanities. He holds a BA and MA from the University of Sussex and a PhD from The Courtauld Institute of Art. His research explores intersections of photography, art, and politics, particularly post-1989 practices. He co-founded the Ph Research Network and led the Centre for Photography and Visual Culture. Collaborations with institutions like the Science Museum and Brighton Photo Biennial highlight his work's interdisciplinary nature. Recent projects include 'Photography After Capitalism' and a Paul Mellon Centre-funded study on UK rave culture in art. He teaches courses on art history, politics, and visual culture.

Research interests include photography's role in socio-political contexts, technology's impact on image production, and curatorial practices. Notable works include the 2015 'Revelations' exhibition and edited volumes like Photography Reframed. He has been Co-Editor of Photoworks and Academic Lead for the Turner Prize Partnership. His writing critiques neoliberalism's influence on photographic cultures and explores labor dynamics in visual media.

Prof Burbridge’s grants include the Paul Mellon Centre’s 'Partial Recall: British Art Remembers Rave'. He advises PhD students on topics like Instagram’s 'material intimacy' and post-war French photobooks. His work challenges institutional practices and advocates for critical engagement with photography’s political economies.