معرفی
Dr. Richard Hylton is a Lecturer in Contemporary Art at the Department of History of Art and Archaeology within the School of Arts at SOAS University of London, where he joined in 2021 after serving as a Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Diversity Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. His academic credentials include a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Exeter College of Art and Design (1987-1990), an MA in History of Art from Goldsmiths (1998-2000), and a PhD from Goldsmiths, University of London (awarded in 2018).
Dr. Hylton has maintained an active presence in the visual arts sector since the early 1990s as an exhibition organizer, curator, and editor, working with institutions including Oldham Art Gallery, Autograph, and LSE. His scholarly work critically examines Black Diasporic art history, African American art in the international arena, and Black British artists, with particular focus on curatorial practices and the politics of cultural diversity. His influential book The Nature of the Beast: Cultural Diversity and the Visual Arts Sector, A Study of Policies, Initiatives and Attitudes 1976-2006 (2007) provides critical analysis of the evolution of 'ethnic arts,' 'black arts,' and 'culturally diverse arts' across decades.
His recent publications demonstrate ongoing engagement with contemporary issues in art history, particularly focusing on cultural diversity, Black art history, and transnational perspectives. Works like 'Impact and legacy: cultural diversity in the UK's visual arts sector–a critical history, 1976–2006' (2025) and 'Donald Rodney: Art, Race and the Body Politic' (2025) continue his critical examination of institutional structures and representation in the visual arts.
Dr. Hylton serves on the Editorial Board of Art History and is a member of the School of Arts Research Committee (2021–present). His scholarly contributions to journals including Routledge Companion to African American Art History, Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art, and Art Monthly have established him as a significant voice in contemporary art criticism. He is currently on Research Leave from January to August 2025 to further his research in contemporary art and cultural diversity.
