Jens Dam Ziska

Jens Dam Ziska serves as Assistant Professor and Programme Leader in Diploma in Art at the University of the Faroe Islands' Faculty of Faroese Language and Literature, currently on Ph.D. leave of absence. His interdisciplinary career bridges visual art practice and philosophical inquiry, with appointments at UCLA, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, and the Warburg Institute.

His academic credentials include:

• MFA in Painting and Drawing from University of California at Los Angeles
• DPhil in Philosophy from University of Oxford
• BPhil in Philosophy from University of Oxford
• MA (Hons) in Philosophy from University of St Andrews

Ziska's research centers on visual thinking mechanisms and the science-art interface, examining how pictorial representation shapes cognition. His work interrogates epistemic dimensions of creativity, particularly in digital contexts like AI-generated art. Current projects analyze drawing as cognitive artifact and the philosophical implications of generative adversarial networks.

Publications reveal evolving focus from foundational epistemology (2016-2017) to contemporary intersections of technology and artistic practice (2018-2024), with increasing emphasis on computational creativity and mythological visual narratives.

Professional recognition includes:

• Frances A. Yates Short-term fellowship at The Warburg Institute (2018)

As Programme Leader, Ziska directs art curriculum development and student mentorship in creative arts. He secured research funding for "Image, Illusion, and Understanding" (2020-2023) exploring pictorial representation, and previously led "Belief, Rationality, and Truth" (2010-2015) investigating normative epistemology. His teaching spans aesthetics, creativity theory, and studio art at Faroe Islands University and UCLA.

Ziska maintains active artistic practice with paintings exhibited at Nordic House (Tórshavn), Mistake Room (Los Angeles), and UCLA galleries, held in Faroe Islands' National Gallery and international private collections.