Student Testimonials

Holly Gordon
MA Art History 2009-2010

I have greatly enjoyed my time at Richmond thus far. The Kensington campus is ideally located in the heart of London within reach of some of the world’s finest museums and art galleries, as well as one-of-a-kind cultural experiences and opportunities for fun and entertainment. As a postgraduate class we have gone on multiple field trips and museum visits, with more to come. The MA in Art History is both rigorous and academically stimulating with its emphasis on intercultural and marginalized perspectives, as well as modernism and contemporary visual culture. The focus on key methodologies and current, relevant scholarship on cultural sensitivity and multiplicity of perspectives provides excellent groundwork for further research at the postgraduate level, and has challenged me to think about art in ways I never have before.

As students in London my classmates and I have access to some of the world’s finest research institutions, like the British Library and the National Library of Art, which I believe, have allowed me take my research to a whole new level and helped me move successfully through this challenging program.

I am currently working on my dissertation, which involves an analysis of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis. By examining novel’s graphic images, I’m exploring the concept of the veil in the context of growing up during the aftermath of the Islamic Revolution in Iran through the lens of postcolonial theory. I argue that Satrapi’s graphic memoir demonstrates that, in contrast to the stereotypes and images of Muslim women and the veil in Iran created by both non-Islamic cultures and the Islamic Republic of Iran deny the real agency and resistance of women’s existence after the revolution. Because of the Richmond MA’s focus on intercultural perspectives and contemporary visual culture, I have been able to research a topic that is current and exciting, and illustrates how this program is unique in the field of Art History. In this way I believe that the Richmond MA in Art History is an extremely enriching experience that teaches students how to think critically, and prepares them for relevant work in diverse fields, in addition to art history, all in one year! It’s an experience that’s really quite hard to beat.

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Lindsay E. Shannon
Ph.D. student
University of Iowa, School of Art and Art History
20th century American art and feminist studies

The MA program was instrumental to my education as an art historian. The concentrated course of study at Richmond made it possible for professors to really challenge students to approach art in new ways.

The program emphasis on intercultural art is particularly relevant to its location in London, which allows first-hand interaction with art and international perspectives. At the same time, the classroom focus on methodologies helped students with a wide variety of interests develop the tools necessary to conduct sophisticated research and an individual style. Kensington is centrally located to major museums and cutting-edge galleries, as well as incredible research libraries, all of which enriched classroom studies and provided opportunities to interact with curators and other professionals. The emphasis on practical applications of studies, multi-cultural approaches, and modern/contemporary art really puts students at the forefront of current developments in the field of art history.

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Danielle Nunez
Events Manager, October Gallery, London

When I began searching for an Art History Graduate program abroad, the MA program at Richmond immediately appealed to my interests. I had always wanted to live in London, and the thought of earning a fully accredited MA degree in one year was extremely attractive.

Thus far, the experience has been just what I hoped for. The MA faculty at Richmond has worked hard to provide an easy transition period for incoming students. We arrived in London about a week before the academic year began, and rather than jumping straight into coursework, we were able to use the time to acclimatize to life on campus, and in London.

The MA program is based at the Kensington campus, which is a prime location for immersion in London life. The campus is nestled in a beautiful residential neighborhood just a few short blocks away from public transportation, shopping and entertainment. In addition, the location is ideal for Art History students in that the Victoria and Albert Museum and National Art Library are just a 15 minute walk away. These resources have proved to be absolutely invaluable!

While the coursework is challenging, with appropriate time management, it can all be accomplished, and quite rewarding. Classes are held inside the classroom as well as the Museum and Gallery settings. Professors make excellent use of the amazing artistic and social opportunities that London has to offer. We have been lucky enough to have classes take place in such locations as Oxford, Greenwich, and even a day spent browsing notable Art Galleries in London’s East End. I recommend this program for anybody wishing to gain hands on experience studying Art in a cosmopolitan setting, and London truly is an excellent setting for Art Historical research.

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Laura Connor
MA Art History 2007
PhD Candidate, Harvard University

Richmond’s MA in Art History offers an excellent course of study that fully prepares its students for careers in academia and the international art world. The program’s curriculum is challenging, engaging, and comprehensive, versing its students in theory, effective research methods, and fascinating topics in art history. Faculty members are both highly knowledgeable and open-minded, inviting discussion and dissention from their students. The Richmond MA further challenges its students by inciting them to explore marginalized artistic production, such as non-Western visual culture and modern British art, while also grounding them in canonical artistic traditions. In addition, the program’s structure strikes an ideal balance between providing academic guidance and allowing students the independence to study the topics that most interest them.

Richmond’s location is another of its principle assets. Vibrant, cosmopolitan London is an ideal environment in which to study the visual arts. Not only do Richmond’s graduate students have easy access to London’s celebrated art collections, renowned libraries, and cutting-edge gallery spaces, other major European museums and cultural centers are only a short plane trip away.

Richmond’s MA program has amply equipped me to pursue further graduate work in the literary and visual arts. Moreover, in addition to professionally preparing me, the Richmond MA has personally enriched me by familiarizing me with diverse types of art and theory with which I had previously had little experience.

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Jessica Wright
Coordinator of Elementary School Programs
New-York Historical Society

I often say that my year at Richmond the American International University in London was the best year of my life so far. Studying art history at Richmond tied into so many different subject areas, such as philosophy, religion, psychology, history and art. After only one year of study, we had become great researchers, writers and experts on different areas within the history of art. Living and going to school in the heart of Kensington made it so easy to get involved in London culture. Although we worked hard, there was plenty of time for music, museums, shopping, cultural events and socializing. I made wonderful friends at Richmond, I became intimately familiar with one of the greatest cities in the world and I obtained a master’s degree, all in one year. My degree gave me expertise within my own personal body of knowledge, while also giving me access to work at some of the greatest museums in New York, such as the Museum of Modern Art, the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and the New-York Historical Society. I am now the Coordinator of Elementary School programs at the New-York Historical Society where I teach school children about New York history, through object-based learning.

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Libby Parham
Capital Projects Co-ordinator
Seattle Art Museum

The MA in Art History Program at Richmond University, in my experience, has many things going for it. The classes are in London – an incredible resource and one of the real hot spots of contemporary art. Also, the MA is a one year program with small classes which allowed for intimate seminar sessions with professors and adequate time with my thesis advisor. I left the program excited about the world of contemporary art and feeling much stronger in my understanding of areas such as theory and history. I am now Capital Projects Co-ordinator at Seattle Art Museum where I am working on two exciting projects involving the Expansion of our Downtown Branch and the building of an outdoor sculpture park in the city. Without the MA and experience as an intern at the Institute for Contemporary Art (ICA) in London (organised by Richmond), I don't think I would have ever begun the climb through the job ladder here at SAM.

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Jess Van Nostrand
Arts Writer and Marketing Specialist for the
Bellevue Art Museum

For studying contemporary art, London is possibly the best place to be in Europe; there is always something newsworthy happening in the arts, and the professors at Richmond were always making the most out of our surroundings. When it came time to turn research into writing, my advisor was instrumental in pushing me to create the quality of writing that has gotten me consistently published since my MA graduation.

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Sarah Nelson
American/ Australian
MA The History of Art, 2004
Sotheby’s Auction House New York and London, Impressionist and Modern Art

Richmond was initially appealing to me as I sought an international atmosphere and a small classroom setting where I could express and exchange ideas and collaborate with both students and professors on an advanced intellectual level. The MA Art History program immersed its students in a rigorous academic scheme as well as permitted us to take advantage of the city of London– its collections, museums, exhibits and culture– on the whole. As my prior experience was in the New York art world in Christie’s Twentieth Century art department, it was a wonderful experience to be able to engage with works of art on a first hand basis with the knowledge of our professors at hand and experience a new city. The professors were thoughtful, supportive and creative with our classes and provided us with a solid and broad understanding of the arts that left us prepared to enter into our desired field.

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Katie Lee
American
MA Art History, 2003
Gallery Director, Eva Carter Gallery, Charleston
Curator, Halsey Gallery, Charleston

Gallery Director, Eva Carter Gallery; Freelance Curator, City of Charleston; and Writer and Special Projects Associate, College of Charleston, Halsey Gallery

“Richmond University offers a unique experience for students seeking a culturally enriched education. This intercultural MA is taught by professors whose personal experiences and viewpoints are diverse and expansive. With their various cultural backgrounds, whether Australian, British or German, the knowledge these professors possess and contributed went far beyond my expectations. Additionally, London is a perfect setting for seeking an advanced degree in Art History. The program is intentionally small, which promotes group correspondence and learning. Likewise, after graduation my professors have kept in touch and been highly supportive of my career development. Currently, I am a Gallery Director; I have written art-related articles for local institutions; and I will be working as a guest Curator for an exhibit. Richmond’s program helped me to believe that I have the ability to take-on various projects. The professors are all very actively involved in research as well as other projects beyond teaching, keeping them aware of contemporary and changing trends and views.”

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Natalie Rosamund
PhD Candidate, Keele University, UK

So much stays with me from my year studying for Richmond's MA in Art History. All of the fascinating lectures, stimulating seminar discussions and eye-opening museum tours introduced whole new worlds of art to me. Living in Kensington was ideal for accessing central London’s museums, galleries and research facilities.

We were encouraged by supportive Professors to search for original research topics and find our own voices in our writing, which is empowering and something that challenges me still. I made some dear friends in the program. Since then, I have taught English and Art at the secondary level, and have returned to the UK for Doctoral research in Victorian Art History.

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Michelle René Barr
MA Art History, 2005
Art Dealer for a Private Collector

From previous experience with London’s multicultural, energetic, and dynamic artistic environment, I knew that Richmond University was the perfect place to obtain my MA. Within close proximity to major museums, art galleries, libraries, and auction houses, Richmond University’s Kensington Campus is ideal in its location; its centrality provides invaluable opportunities to study works of art in situ not only in London, but throughout Europe.

The MA program’s structure is ideal for engaging with contemporary art historical, ethical, and philosophical issues ranging from practices in museology to intellectual property in the arts. During the decision-making process, one of the main reasons I chose Richmond was for the independence Richmond allows its graduate students. While following the MA class structure I have been both academically supported by my professors and advisors and encouraged to customize my education based on independent research in my specific interests.

The cosmopolitanism of Richmond’s MA program is strengthened by the breadth of knowledge exuded by Richmond’s MA professors who have shown a multiplicity in knowledge that both aims to compliment the diversity of the program while also encouraging diversity in its analytical student researchers. The wide range of interests shown by the MA professors has created an ideal environment for students wishing to engage in numerous aspects of art history and its practices.

Overall, the MA program is specifically designed and tailored to broaden its students’ knowledge base by utilizing all that London has to offer. Richmond University not only strives for academic excellence, but also in the employability of its students. Based on my time here at Richmond I have gained a firm and extensive understanding of the arts which has prepared me to enter the professional field of my choice.