Mary Nicholas

Mary Nicholas is Professor of Russian in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Lehigh University. An award-winning teacher, she has published extensively on post-revolutionary Russian prose, poetry, and the visual arts of late Soviet and post-Soviet Russia.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD from the University of Pennsylvania

Nicholas's research centers on Moscow Conceptualism, which she argues requires a revised approach to account for generational and artistic divisions. She explores Soviet and post-Soviet art and literature, including the production novel, and contemporary performance art and collaborative practices. Her work highlights how unofficial artists countered Socialist Realism and underground modernism to imagine a postmodern future transcending national and artistic boundaries.

Her recent publications (2019-2024) demonstrate a consistent focus on Moscow Conceptualism, its legacy, and its connections to the Russian Avant-Garde. She examines collaborative art practices, the role of material objects, and the evolution of art collectives such as the Nest, TOTART, and Voina in the late-Soviet and post-Soviet contexts.

Nicholas is recognized as an award-winning teacher. Specific awards are not listed in the provided text.

Nicholas serves as the MLL advisor for Lehigh's innovative IR-MLL joint major and is a core faculty member in the Global Studies program. She teaches a wide range of courses including Russian language, literature, cultural history, and cross-disciplinary courses in Global Studies. Information about research grants or PhD student advising is not provided.