Bettina Uppenkamp

Prof. Dr. Bettina Uppenkamp is a Professor of Art and Visual History and currently serves as Vice President for Research and Teaching at the Hochschule für bildende Künste Hamburg (HFBK Hamburg). She assumed her professorship in the winter semester of 2017/2018, following a prior role as a professor of art history at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Her research focuses on early modern art, contemporary art, and the history and theory of gender orders and their representation. Since June 2019, she has held the vice-presidential role, overseeing academic and educational initiatives at HFBK.

Her academic work integrates interdisciplinary approaches, combining art history with cultural studies, design theory, and media theory. She leads the study focus 'Theory and History,' which explores intersections of artistic and cultural practices with broader socio-theoretical frameworks. Prof. Uppenkamp is actively involved in organizing events such as the Graduate Show and symposia, including the 'Cine*Ami*es' series and the 'Archives of the Body' project, reflecting her commitment to fostering dialogue between art, academia, and public engagement.

Her administrative leadership includes initiatives like the 'Redesign Democracy' competition for reimagining voting processes and the promotion of international collaborations, such as the partnership with the University of Haifa. She also contributes to the academic community through exhibitions, lectures, and curatorial projects that critically address contemporary social and political themes.