Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Art (African American Art or Art of the African Diaspora in the Americas)

The Department of Art, the Lindner Center for Art History, and the Graduate Program in Art and Architectural History at the University of Virginia invite applications for a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Art. We seek an art historian or visual culture scholar who is pursuing innovative research on African American Art or Art of the African Diaspora in the Americas . We are open to diverse research questions, historical periods, and methodological approaches. We especially welcome applications from colleagues whose work explores how Black artists and practitioners have come to challenge and expand the field of art history and/or explored the bounds and potentialities of artistic media.

The department of Art and the Ph.D. program in Art and Architectural History consist of over thirty faculty members (https://art.as.virginia.edu/faculty) in art and architectural history, archaeology, and studio art. The successful candidate will join a vibrant community of scholars and practitioners beyond the Department of Art: in the departments of History and American Studies, and in institutes and programs including the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African American and African Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Indigenous Studies, Global Studies, Environmental Humanities, Digital Humanities, the Center for Global Inquiry and Innovation, the Institute for the Arts and Humanities, the Black and Indigenous Feminist Futures Initiative, the Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA, the Outsider Preservation Initiative (Center for Cultural Landscapes), and the UVA Southern Africa Office, in addition to Charlottesville community institutions such as the Jefferson School African-American Heritage Center.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D in the History of Art or a related field by the position start date of August 10, 2027. Candidates must demonstrate a rigorous research agenda and promise of excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentorship. We seek a colleague who will be prepared to contribute to the scholarly life and operations of the Department of Art and its undergraduate curriculum, the Ph.D. program, and the University at large. The teaching load is 2 courses per semester.

The search committee will begin reviewing inquiries on December 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by December 1, 2026. Only complete applications will be considered.

Please visit https://apply.interfolio.com/191105 to apply.

Please submit the following:

1. Letter of interest that includes overview of current and future research plans, your teaching interests and experience, and how your skills and experience could advance the University’s ambition to cultivate the most vibrant community in higher education in order to prepare students to be leaders in a diverse and globally connected world. [More information about the 2030 plan (https://strategicplan.virginia.edu/strategic-goals/) .]

2. A curriculum vitae

3. A sample syllabus

4. Contact information for three references

Additional materials and references will be requested of applicants selected to proceed to later stages. Questions about this position should be directed to Sarah Betzer at [email protected]. ([email protected].%20) Questions about the application process should be directed to Melanie Sponaugle, [email protected] . The university will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment (https://eocr.virginia.edu/notice-non-discrimination-and-equal-opportunity) .

The University of Virginia offers confidential Dual Career Services to partners of incoming faculty candidates. To learn more, please visit dualcareer.virginia.edu