Professor Jennifer Fisher from York University's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) is an inaugural recipient of the Art Basel Award in the Media & Storytellers category.
Alongside collaborator Jim Drobnick (OCAD University), Fisher was recognized for advancing critical discourse and elevating underrepresented voices through the Journal of Curatorial Studies, an academic publication that examines curatorial practice within contemporary art and culture.
Jim Drobnick and Jennifer Fisher
Presented for the first time this year, the Art Basel Awards celebrate individuals and organizations who are shaping the future of contemporary art.
The Journal of Curatorial Studies was selected as one of 35 international recipients for its "profound impact and innovation" in defining the curatorial as a site of knowledge production. The jury included leading voices from globally recognized institutions, including the Serpentine (London), Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), Pérez Art Museum Miami and the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, among others.
"We are thrilled that after many years of working on the journal, this international recognition by Art Basel - one of the art world's most prestigious art fairs - arrived out of the blue," says Fisher. "It is heartening to be acknowledged for our innovation and foresight in defining curatorial studies as a field of academic study, where the curatorial is considered in its knowledge-production capacities."
The journal is also making an impact in the classroom. Fisher integrates the journal's articles into her third-year course, Curatorial Studies: Practices of Display and her graduate seminar Curatorial Practices, inviting students to engage directly with a broad spectrum of curatorial approaches.
"Not only are students exposed to a wide range of exhibitions and curatorial practices, they also develop a familiarity with how they might enter into the field as curators, art historians and artists," says Fisher.
Many AMPD students have contributed to the journal through reviews, articles and editorial work, under Fisher's mentorship. "Students learn about curatorial studies as an emergent field in which they can actively contribute," says Fisher.
Over the past decade, 45 York students have appeared in its pages, laying the foundation for career opportunities.
"Experience in scholarly publishing has supported the advancement of students after graduation to such positions as editors of art magazines, curators in art institutions, doctoral study, as well as employment as studio managers for influential artists," says Fisher.
As the journal reaches new audiences following the award, Fisher sees growing opportunities for students to participate in conversations shaping the field.
"We anticipate that this recognition will expand the journal's readership and encourage a more active discussion of issues in curatorial studies."
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
