Daphne Plessner

Daphne Plessner is an Associate Professor at the Audain Faculty of Art, Emily Carr University of Art + Design (ECUAD). She holds a BA (Hons) in Philosophy from Birkbeck College, University of London, and a PhD in Art + Politics from Goldsmiths College, University of London. Her research focuses on citizen art as a form of political practice, exploring themes such as non-human citizenship, treaty relationships, and art's role in shaping new modes of political membership.

Education:

• BA (Hons) Philosophy, Birkbeck College, University of London (UK)
• PhD in Art + Politics, Goldsmiths College, University of London (UK)

Research Interests: Plessner’s work bridges art and political theory, examining how art practices challenge normative citizenship frameworks. Key themes include:

• Art interventions contesting state-centric citizenship
• Human-animal relations and land ownership
• Non-human political membership (e.g., trees, animals)
• Collaborative projects with Indigenous communities (e.g., Tsawout First Nation)

Recent Projects:

• Doing Politics with Citizen Art (2022 book, Rowman & Littlefield)
• Near Dwellers (2023–ongoing)
• The Deer Tour (2022)
• The Tree Museum (2020–ongoing)

Teaching (2025–2026):

• Fall 2025: DRWG 304 (Drawing: Special Topics), HUMN 308 (Studies in Illustration Genres), ILUS 305 (Illustration Genres), PRAX 300 (Dialogues With: Illustration)
• Spring 2026: GSMA 505 (Graduate Seminar II - ECOL), VAST 305 (Art + Text Studio), VAST 410 (Senior Studio Interdiscipline)

Grants & Collaborations: Recipient of research grants from UAL Research Board (UK), Arts & Humanities Research Board (UK), and Canada Council for the Arts. Collaborations include projects with Earl Claxton Jr. (Tsawout First Nation) and Emily Artinian (Street/Road Artists Space).