Stefanie Kitzberger

Stefanie Kitzberger serves as a Senior Scientist at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where since 2025 she has been Head of the Collections and the University Archives and Deputy Head of the Institute. She is currently on research semester without teaching during winter semester 2025/26 and summer semester 2026. Her academic journey includes positions as University Assistant at both the University of Vienna's Institute of Art History and the University of Applied Arts Vienna, alongside fellowships at Northwestern University, University of Kent, and the International Research Center for Cultural Studies.

Kitzberger's research focuses on Marxist/socialist and feminist positions in modern and contemporary art, with particular emphasis on Russian Constructivism and the work of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. Her scholarly work explores the political dimensions of art, subjectivity in artistic practice, and the intersection of artistic production with socioeconomic conditions. She examines how art functions within political contexts, particularly during periods of social transformation, and investigates the relationship between artistic subjectivity and historical circumstances.

Her recent publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining political art practices, with increasing focus on marginalization, precarious labor, and the work of Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. The 2023-2025 publications particularly highlight her deepening engagement with the political dimensions of art under fascism and the representation of women artists in Central European modernism. Her work demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how artistic practices negotiate between aesthetic autonomy and political engagement.

Kitzberger actively contributes to academic discourse through curated events and lecture series, including the annual 'Kunst – Forschung – Geschlecht' lecture series at the University of Applied Arts Vienna since 2022. She has co-curated significant exhibitions such as 'Textile Transfers' (2025), 'Lill Tschudi – Franz Cizek: A delightful sort of game' (2023), and 'Friedl Dicker-Brandeis. Fine Arts Workshops' (2022), demonstrating her commitment to bringing scholarly research into public exhibition contexts.

Her academic leadership extends to organizing international colloquia like 'Tracing Wiener Werkstätte Textiles' (2022) and conceptualizing interdisciplinary projects that bridge historical research with contemporary artistic practices. Kitzberger's work exemplifies the integration of archival research, theoretical analysis, and curatorial practice in contemporary art history scholarship.