Julia Silverman

PhD Candidate in the History of Art & Architecture, Harvard University

Julia Silverman is a PhD candidate in the History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University, where she also pursues a secondary field in American Studies. Her research primarily focuses on the intersections of 19th and 20th-century art, material culture, and the role of design in American colonialism. She is particularly interested in how craft practices relate to broader themes of knowledge production and cultural identity, especially in the context of Indigenous studies.1 3

Educational Background

PhD Candidate: History of Art & Architecture, Harvard University
MA: History of Art, Williams College
AB: Art History, University of Chicago

Research Interests

Silverman's dissertation examines Native American craft and design projects from the 1930s, exploring how these initiatives were influenced by external definitions of tradition and authenticity. This work emphasizes the agency of Indigenous artists in reshaping these projects to meet local social and political needs.3 4

Professional Experience

Julia has held various prestigious positions:

Graduate Student Instructor at Harvard University
Center for American Art Silver Fellow at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Curatorial Intern at the National Gallery of Art
Judith M. Lenett Fellow at the Williamstown Art Conservation Center
Research Assistant at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute

In addition to her academic roles, she has engaged with community organizations and living artists to enhance her research's relevance and impact.1 2

Current Projects

Currently, she is a Wyeth Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art for the 2023-2025 academic years, where she continues her exploration of Native design practices and their historical contexts.5 6