Dr Sylvia Theuri
Dr Sylvia Theuri is an art educator, researcher and independent curator. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in Contextual Fine Art and Photography at the University of Wolverhampton.
Her research interests include belonging in Art Education, Curatorial Strategies of Resistance, Contemporary African Art, Black art histories, Black interiority, joy and care.
Sylvia co-curated the more things change at Wolverhampton Art Gallery (April–July 2023), a major exhibition exploring the work of the Blk Art Group (including Keith Piper, Claudette Johnson, Marlene Smith and Donald Rodney) who were active from 1979 to 1984, as well as focussing on the artists evolving individual practices from 1985 to the present day.
She was Research Lead for the Runnymede Trust’s research project ‘Visualise: Race, Inclusion in Art Education’ commissioned by the Freelands Foundation (August 2021–January 2022). It was the first major research commission into access to the visual arts for Black, Asian and ethnically diverse students in the UK.
Sylvia was also Curator in Residence at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (2019-2020), working in partnership with New Art West Midlands, International Curators Forum and Coventry Biennial. Her residency culminated in the exhibition Thirteen Ways of Looking at The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum (October-December 2020).
Sylvia’s exhibitions have been reviewed/featured in The Guardian, BBC News, The Independent, Art Review and Black Ballad.
Her recent publications include:
- ‘Student Identities in Art and Design Education’ in N Addison and L Burgess Learning to Teach Art and Design in the Secondary School, A Companion to School Experience (2024)
- ‘From Institutional Racism to Duties of Care: Moving Interventionist Practices away from Racism and Colonial Dominance’ commissioned by UAL Decolonising Arts Institute and the Contemporary Art Society (2022).
- 'Who Belongs in Art school?’ in K. McMillan Representation of Women Artists in Britain During 2020, Freelands Foundation (2021).
She is part of the advisory group for ICF (International Curators Forum).