Sarah Gilligan

Dr. Sarah Gilligan is a Senior Lecturer and researcher at Northumbria University, affiliated with the School of Design, Arts and Creative Industries. Her academic career spans teaching, research supervision, and leadership roles in fashion and visual culture. She holds a PhD in Media Arts from Royal Holloway, University of London, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Her work critically examines intersections between clothing, identities, and celebrity culture, with a focus on ageing masculinity and transmedial artistic practices.

Education:

• PhD in Media Arts (Royal Holloway, University of London)
• MA and BA in Media, Film, and Cultural Studies
• Cert Ed (Certified Educator)

Research Interests: Sarah’s research explores visual and material cultures, particularly clothing’s role in shaping identities across film, fashion media, and screen representations. She investigates celebrity culture, gender dynamics, and ageing through projects like Textual Transformations, which bridges art, emotion, and lived experience. Her work often critiques contemporary star-celebrity narratives and their societal impacts.

Professional Contributions:

• Co-founder and Chair of the Fashion, Costume, and Visual Cultures (FCVC) Network
• Editorial roles in journals like Film, Fashion and Consumption and Critical Studies in Fashion and Beauty
• Organizer of international conferences (e.g., FCVC2025 in Croatia)

Awards: Recipient of the British Academy Rising Star Engagement Award for her network’s impact on academic collaboration.

Teaching & Mentoring: Supervises PhD candidates and mentors researchers globally. Teaches across BA, MA, and PhD levels in Fashion Communication and related disciplines.

Public Engagement: Her creative works, including art installations and exhibitions, explore grief and identity through tactile media. Recent shows include Late Shows 2025 and What are Words Worth.