Ellen Macfarlane

Ellen Macfarlane is an Assistant Professor of Art History at the University of Denver, specializing in American art and visual culture with a focus on the history of photography. She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (2018) along with degrees from Rutgers University (M.A. 2011) and the University of Southern California (B.A. 2006). Her research examines modern visual culture (1900–present), integrating methodologies from visual studies and environmental studies. She teaches courses on American art, modern art, photography, and Black art, leveraging local collections like the Denver Art Museum.

Research & Publications: Her forthcoming book Politics Unseen: Group f.64 Photography and the Problem of Purity (UC Press, 2024) reinterprets Group f.64's photography through political and commercial alliances. Supported by grants from the Wyeth Foundation and Barr Ferree Foundation, this work challenges traditional narratives of mid-century photographic purity. Her essays appear in American Art and Southern California Quarterly.

• Awards & Fellowships: Recipient of fellowships from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, ACLS/Luce Foundation, Huntington Library, and others.
• Teaching & Engagement: Courses emphasize interdisciplinary approaches and experiential learning with Denver-area institutions.