Dr. Antawan Byrd

Biography

Antawan Byrd is an art historian and curator serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art History at Northwestern University. His research primarily focuses on art and culture in Africa from the late nineteenth century to the present. Byrd investigates the entanglement of Africa with the world through mediated sound technologies, large-scale exhibitions and biennials, and the circulation of photography and popular culture, all while engaging with theories and practices of Pan-Africanism. He employs analytical models and interpretive methods that embrace polycentricity and non-linear approaches to time. His current book-length work elaborates on his dissertation, examining the impact of sound technologies on visual culture in the context of sixties-era politics, particularly during the decolonization and civil rights struggles. Byrd has extensive curatorial experience, having collaborated with living artists and interpreting historical collections across various institutions. He was the associate curator of photography and media at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he also co-edited the 'Art Institute of Chicago Field Guide to Photography and Media' (2023) and curated notable exhibitions. His research has been supported by the Andrew Mellon-COSI Fellowship and he is the recipient of prestigious awards for his curatorial work.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards