Professor Dr. Elaine Paterson

Biography

Elaine Cheasley Paterson is a Professor of Craft Studies in the Department of Art History at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. She holds a PhD from Queen's University Kingston (2004) and was the recipient of the Bader Fellowship in Art History. Her research primarily focuses on women's cultural philanthropy and the home arts movement, highlighting the contributions of craft guilds in British, Irish, and Canadian contexts. Through a feminist lens, her academic work addresses critical craft studies and the intersections of material culture. She has published extensively in her field, including her recent books and articles examining the craft heritage and its socio-political implications. Paterson is actively engaged in teaching, offering courses that traverse craft history, and curating contemporary craft practices. She is a member of various academic initiatives, including the Centre for the Study of Canadian Women Artists and the Canadian Craft Biennial. Her current research emphasizes the historical trajectory of the home arts movements and their relevance in today's craftivist practices, aiming to articulate the value of sustainable labor in artisan traditions across North America.

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