Professor Dr. Richard Williams

Biography

Richard J. Williams is a Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures at the Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh, specializing in the intersection of visual culture, contemporary cities, and the arts. His research investigates the representation of art and film, the appropriation of old infrastructures for new purposes, and the role of museums in shaping cultural narratives. He has published extensively on topics such as urban ruins and modernist architecture, drawing insights from social sciences, psychology, and architectural history. Williams has served as chair of the European Association of Architectural Historians conference in 2021, further reinforcing his influence in the field. His notable publications include 'Modern Sculpture', a critical analysis of the New York art scene in the 1960s, and 'The Anxious City', which examines the dramatic changes in British cities from the 1980s to the early 2000s. In 'Brazil: Modern Architectures History', he explores the implications of modernist aesthetics in shaping Brazil's political and social agendas. His book 'Sex and Buildings' discusses modern architecture's responses to evolving sexual mores. Additionally, he co-authored 'Architecture and Art History', analyzing the link between these two disciplines. His 2019 work, 'Cities Look the Way They Do', argues for a process-oriented approach to studying urban environments. Williams has contributed to various media, including BBC Radio and international publications.

Research Interests

Experience