Devika Singh

Dr. Devika Singh is a Senior Lecturer in Curating at The Courtauld Institute of Art, co-leading the Master’s Programme in Curating. Previously, she served as Curator of International Art at Tate Modern, focusing on South Asian collections and transnational art histories. She holds a BA from the University of Cambridge (King’s College), an MA from The Courtauld, and a PhD from Cambridge, supported by AHRC and Knox studentships. Her research explores modern/contemporary art in South Asia, transnational art dialogues, and curatorial practices.

• Education: BA (First Class) in Art History (Cambridge, 2005), MA (Distinction) in Art History (The Courtauld, 2006), PhD (Cambridge, 2013)

Her research interests center on postcolonial art historiography, the transnational circulation of artistic ideas, and the role of museums in shaping global narratives. Notable projects include co-curating Gedney in India (2017–2018) and leading Tate’s Hyundai Research Centre: Transnational. She has curated exhibitions at institutions like the Dhaka Art Summit and the India Pavilion at Dubai Photo (2016).

Her 2023 monograph International Departures: Art in India after Independence examines post-1947 artistic movements, supported by British Academy and Paul Mellon Centre grants. Recent articles address themes like decolonial museum practices, transnational curatorial frameworks, and South Asian art’s global engagements.

• Awards: British Academy Research Grant (2023), DAAD Fellowship (2013), Smuts Research Fellowship (Cambridge)

She advises on art prizes (e.g., Rencontres d’Arles, Cavendish Arts Science Fellowship) and edits Oxford Art Journal. Her work bridges academia and practice, emphasizing collaborative research and public engagement through exhibitions, publications, and international residencies (e.g., Villa Medici, Oslo’s OCA).