Sarah Held

Dr.phil. Sarah Held is a cultural scientist, artist, and lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and Linz University of Arts (Fashion and Gender Studies). She actively combines academic research with artistic interventions through the feminist performance collective Aufstand der Schwestern, addressing issues like femicides at documenta fifteen.

• Academy of Fine Arts Vienna - PostDoc Researcher
• Linz University of Arts - Lecturer for Fashion and Gender Studies

Education:

• PhD recipient (Dr.phil.) with Friedrich Ebert Foundation support

Research Focus:
Sarah Held specializes in intersectional analyses of repressive mechanisms (class/gender/race), feminist resistance materiality, and affect-theoretical violence studies. Her work includes critical examinations of neo-fascist aesthetics in fashion, queer-feminist reimagination of pornographic frameworks, and textile-based activism against sexualized violence.

Publications & Artistic Output:
Her recent works (2021-2023) explore: feminist textile agency in USA/Mexico/Chile/Australia field research; far-right transformations in fashion/pop culture; affect-theoretical violence analysis in masculine fatal body ideals; and co-edited critical porn studies. These publications demonstrate interdisciplinary engagement with feminist theory, critical race studies, and queer aesthetics.

Honors & Funding:
As a Friedrich Ebert Foundation doctoral fellow and recipient of multiple art/cultural grants, Sarah Held combines academic rigor with activist art practice.