Assistant Professor of Indigenous Art

University of Arkansas • Fayetteville, NC

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About The Position

The Art History Program in the School of Art, in Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas, invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Art History of Indigenous Art.to start in August 2026. This is a standard nine-month faculty appointment. Applicants may specialize in any aspect of Indigenous or Native art and its intersecting fields, including material culture, craft history, ecological thought, and museum practices. Collaborations with allied fields in Indigenous Studies such as anthropology, literature, and languages are also embraced. The position is open in terms of chronological and geographical specialization, but we are especially interested in scholars whose research on Indigenous cultural production connects with the arts of the Americas broadly. Interdisciplinary, intersectional, and transregional approaches centering Indigenous or Native histories are particularly welcome, as is scholarship that critically engages the migration of Indigenous peoples, objects, and practices through time and space. We seek creative thinkers who will contribute to the excellence of the intellectual community in the School of Art and participate in the growing arts ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas. The Art History Program is actively committed to expanding art historical knowledge and approaches, embracing new methodologies, and educating students in a multivocal art history. Applications are encouraged from those invested in public education that aims to make art history accessible and compelling to first-generation students. Scholars with a passion for collaboration, program-building, and partnership-development are also encouraged to apply.
This tenure-track position comes with an annual research budget of up to $10,000 to support scholarship. This is a nine-month faculty appointment, with a standard workload of 40% research, 40% teaching (2 courses per semester, 4 courses total per year), and 20% service. Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others. We are a vibrant and growing program. In Fall 2023, we launched a new MA program in the arts of the Americas, developed in partnership with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and its contemporary arts satellite, the Momentary. There is significant interest in Indigenous art across the School of Art and Crystal Bridges has recently foregrounded Indigenous art in its curatorial initiatives. The successful candidate will teach courses at the MA and BA level in Indigenous/Native art and participate in student recruitment. Candidates may teach in the Honors College and at the university’s Rome Center, and co-design courses with colleagues in Studio, Design, Art Education, and other units. We envision future collaborations between this position and the Indigenous Studies Program. Art history faculty also have ties to African and African American Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, and Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies, among other departments. There are also opportunities to lead travel courses both domestically and abroad. Additional resources include the Arkansas Archaeological Survey, the Fine Arts Center Teaching Gallery, the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville, and the many museums in the region, including the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, OK, the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, MO.
About the School of Art The School of Art has a rich history beginning in 1874 when instruction in drawing and painting was first offered at the University of Arkansas for non-degree credit. The first art major program leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree was introduced in 1929. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree was instituted in 1982 and the Master of Fine Arts graduate degree, one of the first such programs in the country, was initiated in 1952. In recent years, the School of Art has experienced substantial growth and transformation. The most significant change occurred in 2017 when the Department of Art became the School of Art, made possible through a landmark $120 million gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. This historic gift created the first and only school of art in the state of Arkansas, propelling art education, design, research, and creative activity forward while providing unparalleled access and opportunity for students. The gift was allocated with three primary goals: providing unprecedented levels of financial support for students through scholarships, travel grants, and internships; engaging the region through outreach and public service in partnership with Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and a wide range of community arts organizations; and expanding programs and degree offerings within the School. These commitments continue to drive the School of Art’s mission today, ensuring access, excellence, and national leadership in art and design education.

Requirements

• PhD in Art History or an allied discipline from an accredited institution of higher education conferred by the date of initial appointment.
• An established record of innovative scholarship in Indigenous or Native art that complements or expands existing faculty strengths.
• An established record of, or potential for, exceptional teaching in Indigenous or Native art that complements or expands existing faculty strengths.
• An established record of, or potential for, mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and cross-campus collaborations that support the study of Indigenous art and culture.
• Demonstrated record of program-building and partnership development that supports the study of Indigenous art and culture.
• Demonstrated record of community outreach.

Responsibilities

• 40% Teaching
• 40% Research
• 20% Service

Benefits

• The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree