Jonas N.T. Becker

Jonas N.T. Becker is an Associate Professor in the Photography Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). He holds an MFA from the University of California, Irvine, and a BA from Smith College, with additional training through the Coro Fellowship in Public Policy. His work explores intersections of identity, politics, and environment through photography, video, and performance, focusing on rural America and critical geographies. Becker has exhibited internationally at institutions like the MCA Chicago and the Wexner Center, and his research includes the Mobile Pinhole Project, an educational initiative transforming a van into a camera for youth engagement. He has received notable awards, including the Lucas Artists Residency Fellowship and the Six Points Fellowship.

Education: BA in Architecture and Urbanism (Smith College, 2004), MFA in Photography (UC Irvine, 2010), Coro Fellowship in Public Policy (2007).

Research Interests: Landscapes as sites of cultural myth and political power; rural America, environmental justice, and identity politics. Projects like Class Struggle and New Normal interrogate historical narratives and contemporary trauma through participatory mediums. His work bridges theory and practice, challenging conventional storytelling frameworks.

Awards and Grants: Over 20 grants and fellowships, including the Wexner Center Film/Video Studio Residency and the Ohio State University Research Fellowship. His work has been featured in Frieze, Art Practical, and Contemporary Art Review Los Angeles.

Teaching and Pedagogy: Leads SAIC’s Graduate Projects courses and co-founded the Mobile Pinhole Project, a youth-focused photography workshop. His curriculum emphasizes radical pedagogies and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Labs/Teams: Director of the Mobile Pinhole Project; collaborator on the Wexner Center’s Appalachian Prison Land Collaborative. His research spans art, environmental science, and social justice, often in transdisciplinary teams.