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Olga Zabalueva is an Associate Professor in the Department of Culture and Media Studies at Umeå University, Sweden, specializing in critical museology, memory politics, and activist approaches to cultural heritage. Her work bridges academic theory and museum practice with a focus on identity construction and social relevance.
She earned an MA in Museology from the Russian State University for the Humanities (Moscow), an MA in Applied Cultural Analysis from Lund University, and a PhD in Culture and Society from Linköping University. Her doctoral research examined museum politics, agonistic memory frameworks, and sustainable museum practices in global and Swedish contexts.
Dr. Zabalueva's research centers on museology as a discipline, particularly the (re)construction of identities through museums and memory institutions. She investigates heritage politics in post-Soviet spaces, decolonial museology challenges, museum neutrality debates, and the impact of new materialisms on digital collections. Her work consistently addresses how museums navigate difficult histories while promoting social justice.
Her recent publications reveal a trajectory of increasing engagement with politically charged museum practices, from Holocaust memorialization in human rights contexts to decolonization efforts in American art museums. She critically examines how museums handle imperial legacies, right-wing populism, and activist interventions while challenging institutional neutrality claims.
As an active professional, she serves on the Board of Swedish Genus i museer (Gender in Museums) and is a member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and Memory Studies Association (MSA), contributing to global conversations on ethical museum practices.
