Sjoukje van der Meulen

Sjoukje van der Meulen is an Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art History in the Department of History and Art History at Utrecht University's Faculty of Humanities. She holds a PhD from Columbia University (2009) and has previously taught at Columbia University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Oregon, and University of Amsterdam. She was selected as Rudolf Arnheim Visiting Professor 2020-2021 at Humboldt University in Berlin.

Her educational background includes a master's degree from Columbia University's Department of Art History and Archaeology, where she studied with Professor Rosalind Krauss, and a doctoral degree in architectural history and theory under Professors Kenneth Frampton and Andreas Huyssen.

Dr. van der Meulen specializes in modern and contemporary art from circa 1850 to the present day. Her research spans several interconnected areas:

• New Media and Digital Culture, examining the impact of digital technologies on art production and reception
• Globalization discourse with a special focus on contemporary Chinese art in a global context
• Art in the European Union since the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, analyzing cultural policy and artistic practice
• The intersection of art history with postcolonial studies, globalization studies, European studies, and media studies
• Art and digital culture, particularly the challenges posed by AI for art and society

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on the relationship between art, globalization, and social issues. She has written extensively on Chinese contemporary art, European biennials, and the impact of digital culture on artistic practice. Her work often bridges theoretical analysis with concrete case studies of contemporary art practices.

Dr. van der Meulen has received several prestigious recognitions:

• Aspasia Award (January 18, 2018)
• Outstanding Peer Reviewer Acknowledgment (January 7, 2021)
• Rudolf Arnheim Guest Professorship (2020)

Beyond her academic work, Dr. van der Meulen has served as editor and art critic for Metropolis M and co-editor-in-chief of Stedelijk Studies. She has extensive experience as a museum educator, lecturer, and guide for the Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum, working in four languages: Dutch, English, German, and French. She regularly contributes to media discussions on contemporary Chinese art and has upcoming engagements including a Visiting Scholar position at Tongji University in Shanghai (2025-2026).