About
Kirsten Olds’ research focuses on modern and contemporary visual culture. She is the author of several exhibition catalogues, including Theodoros Stamos: Infinity and Beyond, Marjorie Strider: Pop Artist, Roy Lichtenstein: Woman Contemplating a Yellow Cup, and Idelle Weber. Her essays have appeared in Art Journal, Journal of Fandom Studies, Liminalities: Journal of Performance Studies, Contact Sheet, and Art Practical. In addition to serving as the juror for group shows, she has curated several exhibitions, including Unscripted Play, Art in Mosaic, Hogue 125: Original and Inspired, and Dennis Oppenheim: Architecture/Not Architecture, Landscape/Not Landscape.
Her attention to guiding students individually was recognized in 2017 with the Linda J. Lacey for Mentoring Excellence, and her teaching has been honored with awards for outstanding teaching at the college and university levels. She has served on committees and worked on projects with many of the city’s arts institutions, including 108 Contemporary, Living Arts, Philbrook, and Gilcrease Museums. At TU she has served in several administrative roles, including as senior associate dean of Kendall College of Arts & Sciences, former director of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment Management, and at present as co-director of the graduate program in Museum Science and Management and interim dean of Kendall College.
Awards and Honors
- Distinguished Award for Outstanding Teaching, University of Tulsa, 2019
- Linda J. Lacey Award for Mentoring Excellence, University of Tulsa, 2017
- College of Arts and Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Tulsa, 2016
Education
- Ph.D., University of Michigan
- M.A., University of Michigan
- B.A., Columbia University
Research interests and areas of expertise
- Performance art
- Mail art
- Video art
- Contemporary art
- Theories of race, gender, and sexuality
- Queer identities
- Structuralist and post-structuralist methodologies
- Pop art
- Artistic collaboration
- Artists’ networks