Hilary Robinson

Professor Hilary Robinson is a leading scholar in feminist art theory, currently serving as Director of the Centre for Doctoral Training: Feminism, Sexual Politics, and Visual Culture. Her academic career spans institutions in Northern Ireland, the USA, and England, including roles as Dean of the School of Art and Design at Middlesex University and Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University. She holds a PhD in Art Theory from the University of Leeds, with research focusing on Luce Irigaray's philosophy and its implications for women artists.

Her educational background includes a BA in Fine Art from the University of Newcastle, an MA in Cultural History from the Royal College of Art, and a PhD supervised by Griselda Pollock. She has held leadership roles in arts organizations such as The Andy Warhol Museum and Quantum Theatre, and currently advises on the AHRC-funded Black Arts and Modernism project.

Robinson’s research explores intersections of feminism, art, and institutional critique. Key themes include gender in art education, post-industrial urban art economies, and decolonizing art history. Her recent work addresses pandemic-era cultural politics and race in regional art scenes like Pittsburgh. She has authored major texts such as Feminism-Art-Theory 1968-2014 and co-edited The Art of Feminism.

Her publications span over four decades, analyzing topics from performance art activism to museum archiving strategies. She advocates for inclusive curricula and retention of artists in post-industrial cities through initiatives like the Creative Entrepreneurs project.