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Centre for Philosophy and Visual Arts

The Centre for Philosophy and Visual Arts is a major multi-disciplinary initiative based at King’s College London.  Its aim is to bring together academics, artists, curators and gallerists to explore the connections between philosophy, theory and the visual arts. The core research questions in which the Centre is interested are:

  • How can philosophy contribute to the study of artistic practice, training, and theory in the contemporary visual arts? How should we conceptualise the role, limitations, and capacities of the visual?
  • How might philosophy critique or theorise specific methods and techniques within the contemporary visual arts?
  • What philosophical frameworks are currently dominant on the contemporary arts scene and how are these used to licence, support or theorise particular pieces of work or particular practices?
  • How have particular philosophers influenced recent and contemporary work in the arts and in arts theory?
  • How should we understand the relationship between philosophical texts and artworks which share a common theme or topic?
  • To what degree can a focus on the concrete reality and sociology of contemporary artistic practice in the West act as a corrective to traditional aesthetic theories?

Above all, the Centre is committed to developing ongoing collaborations between artists and philosophers, and to exploring the way in which the format of such collaborations alters or deepens the interplay between the two approaches.

For upcoming workshops, gallery talks, exhibitions and more, please follow us on twitter @PhilosophyArts or visit our website.

The Centre for Philosophy and Visual Arts is partners with Tate, The Photographers Gallery, Flat Time House and Institute of Psychoanalysis. 

Members

Vanessa Brassey

Vanessa Brassey

PhD candidate in Philosophy, Contributing Editor for the Centre for Philosophy and the Visual Arts

John Callanan

John Callanan

Senior Lecturer in Philosophy

Sarah Fine

Sarah Fine

Senior Lecturer in Philosophy

Sacha Golob

Sacha Golob

Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Director of the Centre for Philosophy and the Visual Arts

Christopher Hamilton

Christopher Hamilton

Reader in Philosophy

Matthew Soteriou

Matthew Soteriou

Chair in Philosophy of Mind

Image of a lady dining

CPVA and Contemporary Artistic Practice

CPVA works alongside leading contemporary artists both within the UK and globally to explore the philosophical issues and challenges raised by their work. To see that type of collaboration in action, please go to:

Philosophy and Visual Arts

'Neither of us is Powerless' by Jort van der Laan, 2018. Blury image of people walking

CPVA's Residency Programme

CPVA runs a highly competitive Residency Programme, working in collaboration with international partners to allow to work directly alongside academic researchers at KCL. To see work from the most recent round of residencies, please go to:

Philosophy and Visual Arts Residency Programme

Franz West at the Tate

CPVA and Contemporary Curatorial Practice

CPVA works alongside some of the world’s most influential galleries, including Tate Modern, Tate Britain, and the Photographers’ Gallery, to integrate Philosophy into their exhibitions and programmes. To see that type of collaboration in action, please go to:

Philosophy and Visual Arts - Franz West and Deleuze

Contact us

To be kept informed about forthcoming events from the Centre, please sign up to our mailing list. Simply email the address above with ‘Mailing List’ in the subject line.

Twitter @PhilosophyArts

Philosophy and Visual Arts Blog 

Mailing address:

Centre for Philosophy and Visual Arts
Arts & Humanities Research Institute
K1.18, King’s Building
Strand
WC2R 2LS

Faculties and departments