Laura M. Holzman

Laura M. Holzman is Professor of Art History and Museum Studies at Indiana University Indianapolis, where she is also Public Scholar of Curatorial Practices and Visual Art. As a specialist in engaged art history, she activates art, its history, and its institutions to strengthen communities and expand democratic discourse. She holds a BA in art history with highest honors from Swarthmore College and a MA and PhD in visual studies from the University of California, Irvine.

Her first book, Contested Image: Defining Philadelphia for the Twenty-First Century (Temple University Press, 2019), analyzes visual culture, public discourse, and the struggle to shape Philadelphia’s reputation during an important moment of change in the city.

At IU, Laura teaches graduate and undergraduate courses on topics such as public art, curatorial practice, museum history and theory, and urban visual culture. She regularly collaborates with arts administrators, students, and other community members to develop exhibitions and public programs.