Dr Judith Winter

Biography	Judith Winter is a curator, writer and lecturer in critical & contextual studies, Gray’s School of Art. She returned to teaching in 2016 and joined RGU in 2019 following a career working as a curator of modern and contemporary art. Formally she worked as curator of fine art for Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) and Head of Arts for Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA). Her approach to exhibition making was informed through her formative experiences at Riverside Studios and Lisson Gallery, London in the early 90s and influenced through exposure to the pioneering curators working in the expanded field of art practice, during her research for Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Lisson Gallery, London (1993). At mima she was responsible for the development of the curatorial approach that helped established the creative ambitions of the venue. Alongside overseeing the conservation of the Fine Art collection she also acquired a significant collection of contemporary drawing through the support of Contemporary Art Society (CAS) and co-curated the pre-opening and inaugural exhibition programme. As Head of Arts at DCA (Dundee Contemporary Arts, Scotland) she created an international programme of solo exhibitions, publications and associated events. These include (amongst others): Thomas Hirschhorn, 'It’s Burning Everywhere', Camilla Løw: 'Straight Letters'; Johanna Billing: Keep on Doing'; Matthew Buckingham: 'Play the Story.' Her curatorial approach was most clearly demonstrated through DCA10, that included: Martin Boyce: 'No Reflections' for Scotland + Venice for the 53rd Venice Biennale and the ambitious exhibition déjàVu with the artist Manfred Pernice and the curators Mike Stanley (1975 – 2012) Modern Art Oxford, Frank Maes, SMAK Gent. Since leaving DCA she has continued to work on independent curatorial projects, most recently as guest curator with The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds. Developing a the major retrospective exhibition ‘Edward Allington: Things Unsaid', that aimed to situate and introduce the artists practice for a new generation. Throughout her career she has been committed to supporting emergent practices and worked as arts advisor for British Council Scotland between 2012 - 2013, leading on a programme of international networking opportunities for curators. She also has played a key role supporting artist-led organisations, including Locus +, Art Editions North, Workplace and MAP, Scotland. In 2022 she became a trustee for Forgan Arts, North East Fife and is co-chair of the board.
Research Interests	Judith Winter works between curatorial projects, teaching and writing. She is particularly interested in the transformative potential of art school environments and independent art organisations. Her research focuses on the artistic ecology and art school reform. This builds on her experiences working as part of the ERC funded research project: Knowing from the Inside (KFI) led by the environmental anthropologist Prof. Tim Ingold, University of Aberdeen and association with the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation. Her PhD thesis Un-learning Bauhaus (2022) considers the conditions that give rise to social and educational reform and why that matters for our collective futures.
Teaching and Learning	Dr Winter teaches on Critical & Contextual Studies modules across the range of undergraduate provision from first to fourth year, and on the Masters programme . Committed to curation as pedagogy, her research . offers a unique opportunity to work with students to explore 'sense of place' and use the location and Heritage collection as a trigger for the curriculum.
Scopus Author ID	56803194800
PhD Supervision Availability	Yes
PhD Topics	Art School Reform (Bauhaus, Black Mountain and Beyond) Sculpture Studies Speculative Practices Curatorial Studies: Theory and Practice Art, Anthropology & Environment (shifting sense of place)