Christina Kiaer

Christina Kiaer is the Frances Hooper Professor and Chair of the Department of Art History at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on Soviet and post-Soviet art history, with a particular emphasis on socialist realism, constructivism, and cultural politics under authoritarian regimes. She has authored seminal works such as *Collective Body* (2024) and *Imagine No Possessions* (2005), and curated influential exhibitions like *Revolution Every Day* (2017–18) and *Collective Threads* (2024–25). Her recent work addresses the challenges of conducting art historical research in contemporary Russia amid geopolitical tensions.

Her scholarship bridges art theory, cultural history, and political critique, examining how visual culture reflects and shapes ideological frameworks. Kiaer has collaborated with major institutions including the Tate Modern, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Tretyakov Gallery. She serves as a leading voice on the intersection of art, memory, and power in Eastern Europe.

Key themes in her research include the demise of collective ideals in Soviet art, the impact of oligarchic and state patronage, and the ethical dilemmas of international scholarly engagement with authoritarian regimes. Her 2024 book *Collective Body* reinterprets the works of Aleksandr Deineka to critique the limits of socialist realism, while her exhibitions often highlight marginalized voices within Soviet artistic production.