Jay Buchanan

Jay Buchanan is a doctoral candidate and Lynne Cooper Harvey Fellow in American Culture Studies at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on global contemporary art, LGBTQ+ art, photography, performance, and the histories of empire, infrastructure, industry, and commerce. He is currently on leave pursuing a curatorial internship at the J. Paul Getty Museum.

Educational Background:

• Master of Arts in Theater and Performance Studies, Washington University (2021)
• Bachelor's degree in Theater and Politics, Wake Forest University
• Doctoral certificate in American Culture Studies
• Doctoral minor in Nineteenth-Century European Art

Research Interests: Jay's work examines queer and trans* visual cultures, particularly through the lens of bathers and bathing, exploring themes like exoticism, techno-imperialism, the politics of the nude, and sanitation infrastructure policy since 1830. His interdisciplinary approach bridges art history, performance studies, and migration studies.

Awards and Recognition:

• Recipient of the Gloria Anzaldúa Award for Advocacy at the Intersections
• Barbara Pollard-Stein Award for Excellence in Teaching (2024)

Advising and Affiliations: Advised by Dr. Ila Sheren, Jay has engaged in curatorial and administrative roles with institutions such as the National Gallery of Art, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, and transdisciplinary initiatives like Moving Stories. He previously served on the Board of Trustees at Washington University and co-chaired the Queer and Trans Caucus for Art (QTCA) at the College Art Association (CAA).

Labs and Collaborations: Collaborated on projects like the Projects Archive of Lynn Book (US-Mexico border arts map), Idiosynchrony (sonic arts collective), and the Transformative Arts Project at Wake Forest. Active in arts education and access through GoLive Theater Projects and the Interdisciplinary Performance and the Liberal Arts Center (IPLACe).