Ivan Knapp

Dr Ivan Knapp is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Department of History of Art at the University of York. His research focuses on modern and contemporary art, particularly examining intersections between politics, digital media, and subjectivity. He holds MAs from the University of Edinburgh and The Courtauld Institute of Art, and a PhD from University College London. Prior to his current role, he taught at the University of Warwick and Northeastern University London.

His research project, ‘Relating Objects: Sculpture and Trumpism’, investigates how contemporary artists use sculpture to address digital media, social polarization, and far-right populism. Key themes include materiality, masculinity, and monuments in sculptural practice. His work addresses gaps in art historical scholarship regarding dematerialized image culture.

Publications include essays in Art History, Third Text, and October, focusing on topics such as Silvia Kolbowski’s allegorical works, Mary Kelly’s performance art, and meme culture in contemporary art. His writing bridges art theory with cultural and political analysis.

Knapp’s academic contributions emphasize the role of sculpture in responding to digital and political shifts, offering critical frameworks for understanding contemporary art’s engagement with societal issues.