Doctoral study in Art History
Why study with us?
We offer New Zealand's largest programme of art history and theory.
As a doctoral candidate, you'll benefit from: financial support for research expenses through PReSS funding; high-calibre supervision practices; and the networks and expertise of our world-class academic researchers.
Research opportunities
You will be supervised by our researchers and have access to a range of resources to assist you in your academic and professional development.
We welcome research proposals in areas such as:
- Māori art
- Pacific art
- New Zealand art
- Early modern visual and material culture
- Court studies
- International contemporary art and visual cultures
- Gender, art and visual culture
- Psychological and phenomenological approaches to art
- Critical and postcolonial theory
- Indigenous museology
- Museums and curating
- Photography
- Performance art
- Art crime
Our people
Dr Ngārino Ellis
Māori art, including carving, moko, and patronage; Māori and Indigenous museology, collections, repatriation; non-Western feminisms; art crime, especially in relation to Indigenous communities; art markets, including auction houses and provenance; global art histories.
Associate Professor Erin Griffey
Early modern British and European material and visual culture; court studies; portraiture.
Dr Greg Minissale
Contemporary art in all media, art theory and criticism, psychological approaches to art.
Dr Caroline Vercoe
Pacific art; contemporary Māori and Pacific art; photography and representation; gender and non-western feminisms; post-colonial theory; performance art.
Dr Robin Woodward
Public art, New Zealand art, sculpture (18th century to contemporary).
Past research topics
- 'Beyond the clock: The aesthetics of time in contemporary art' | Supervised by Dr Greg Minissale
- 'Mama 'o 'a folau (Far away, but only travelling): Contexts and performativity in the making, use and display of contemporary ngatu' | Supervised by Dr Caroline Vercoe and Dr Phyllis Herda
- 'Anna of Denmark and the arts in Jacobean England' | Supervised by Associate Professor Erin Griffey
- 'Unfolding relations: Intersubjectivity choreographed in contemporary art' | Supervised by Dr Greg Minissale
- 'Picturing the writing woman: The representation of three early vernacular poets in fifteenth-century Italy' | Supervised by Associate Professor Erin Griffey
- 'Inspiration and exchange: Artist residencies in oceania' | Supervised by Dr Caroline Vercoe
Experience doctoral study
Best thesis explores time in contemporary art
Kate Brettkelly-Chalmers' doctoral thesis on the aesthetics of time in contemporary art was awarded a Vice-Chancellor's Prize for Best Doctoral Thesis.
Scholarships and awards
There are several scholarships you may be eligible for when you decide to pursue your PhD in Art History:
- University of Auckland Doctoral Scholarships
- Faculty of Arts Doctoral Scholarship
- Anne Reid Memorial Trust Scholarship
Help and advice
Our friendly staff will provide you with advice on enrolling in your PhD at Student Hubs.
If you would like to discuss your plans for your doctoral research you can contact our PhD Adviser.