Michael Ashkin

Michael Ashkin is a Professor in the Department of Art at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. He has been a faculty member since 2006, teaching courses in photography and thesis development. His work bridges artistic practice and academic inquiry, with a focus on landscape, urban environments, and visual representation.

Research Interests:

• Installation art
• Interdisciplinary art
• Landscape architecture
• Photography and sculpture
• Visual representation of post-industrial spaces
• Urban and environmental transformation

His recent photobooks and exhibitions explore liminal American landscapes such as the Meadowlands, Centralia, and the Mojave Desert, using photography, sculpture, and book form as interconnected media. The themes across his 15 most recent works reflect a deep engagement with spatial politics, memory, decay, and the socio-ecological footprint of human activity, often presented through dioramas, photographic series, and site-specific installations.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (2009)
• Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant (1997, 2012)
• New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship (1999)
• Multiple MacDowell and Yaddo residencies
• Cornell Council for the Arts Grants (multiple years)
• Lannan Foundation Residency
• The Walter Teimann Prize (Shortlist, 2019)

Michael Ashkin has served as a thesis advisor for MFA students through courses like ART 4003 and ART 4004, guiding advanced creative work in visual arts. He has received consistent institutional support through grants and fellowships, indicating sustained research activity. While no formal lab or team structure is specified, his collaborative projects—such as performances with musicians Annie Lewandowski and Tim Feeney—demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement. His work is held in major collections including the Whitney Museum, MUDAM Luxembourg, and the San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art, affirming his national and international impact.