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Eli Durst is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Texas at Austin. He specializes in studio art, focusing on photography and media. Durst's work is characterized by its conceptual documentary approach, often blending languages to create open-ended and ambiguous narratives. He received his Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Art in 2016 and has a background in American literature and history from Wesleyan University. Durst's notable works include the series 'Asmara,' which examines the postcolonial legacy of Eritrea's capital, winning him the Aperture Portfolio Prize. He has also received the Aaron Siskind Individual Photographer’s Fellowship Grant in 2017 and the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 2025. Durst has been recognized multiple times for his teaching excellence, receiving the 'Professor of the Semester' award from the UT Senate in Spring 2022, as well as the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Department of Art & Art History. In addition to his accolades, he has published two monographs, 'Community' in 2020 and 'Four Pillars' in 2022.
University of Texas at Austin • Austin, Texas
Teaching photography and media as well as serving as Department Associate Chair.
General requirements for the Graduate School at UT Austin apply to all programs unless otherwise specified.