Paula Smithard undertakes research that explores: feminist art practice and its legacy and issues of gender, sexuality and difference in contemporary art; surrealism and after including its intersection with psychoanalysis and philosophy. Paula has specialist knowledge of psychoanalysis and continental philosophy and is an assistant editor of JCFAR (Journal for Centre of Freudian Analysis and Research). Paula can also be found giving occasional gallery talks and appearing on panel discussions in museums and galleries such as the Tate, Camden Arts Centre or most recently at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art (April 2015).

 

Paula’s background is in history of modern art, design & film. After several years as an arts administrator, Paula began working at the Serpentine Gallery in the early 90s. Paula later went on to lecture widely on modern and contemporary art including regularly at Central Saint Martins (UAL), Goldsmiths College, University of London; Birkbeck College, University of London; Camberwell College of Arts (UAL) and The Open University.

 

In the late ‘90s Paula’s art criticism explored the cultural politics of pleasure and subjectivities and appeared in, amongst others, make, (e)verything and Variant magazines. An essay from this period has recently been republished in eds. Walsh, M. & Throp, M., The MAKE Anthology: Reviewing the Past and Looking to the Future of Women’s Art Practice (2015; I.B. Tauris publishers).

 

An experimental text is forthcoming in a publication to be launched at Sluice Art Fair (October 2015).