PhD in History of Arts - Queer Studies in Philadelphia United States | University of Pennsylvania

Queer Studies in Art History begins with the understanding that while the arts have frequently served as a sanctuary for those marginalized by their sexuality, they haven't always embodied true liberation. Queer artists historically employed various tactics to conceal imagery that might expose their sexual identity, often creating works that carried distinct meanings for different audiences with varying levels of insight. Direct depictions of queer sexuality in art remain uncommon, as queer expression more often manifests through themes of absence, symbolic language, and artistic disguise—ways of tracing sexual difference in what's left unsaid rather than what's explicitly shown. Although queer studies can enrich all academic disciplines, it finds particular resonance in 19th and 20th century art, American art, and Contemporary works. Our approach consistently examines queerness through an intersectional lens, recognizing how sexuality intertwines with gender, race, class, as well as complex considerations of time, place, and ways of knowing.