Professor Jonathan Harris

Harris sits on a variety of book series editorial committees. He reviews grant applications from numerous research councils in the UK and overseas. 

Research Degree Students Examined

• Nat Muller, ‘Lost Futurities: Science Fiction in Contemporary Art from the Middle East’, PhD, Birmingham City University, 28 July 2022 (internal examiner).
• Sally Baines, ‘Locating a Space of Exchange: Re-imagining the Liminal in Contemporary Painting Practice.’ PhD, Birmingham City University, 4 November 2021 (internal examiner).
• Antony Martin, ‘The Housewatch project: A case study of collective, collaborative, expanded avant-garde filmmaking practice 1985-1997.’ PhD, Coventry University June 2021.
• Tommie Sorros, PhD thesis on marketing in the contemporary art world, NCAD, Eire, 2020.
• Owen J. Logan, ‘Fractured Culture: The Sociological Poetics of Art, Participation and Well-being’ PhD, University of Northumbria, 12 January 2018.
• Rachel Marsden, ‘The Transcultural Curator: Local to Global Translations of Contemporary Chinese Art since 1980’ PhD, Birmingham City University, 3 July 2017.
• Owen J. Logan, ‘Fractured Culture: The Sociological Poetics of Art, Participation and Well-being’ PhD, University of Northumbria, 24 September 2015.
• Aikaterini Karavida, ‘The Thessaloniki Biennale: The agendas and alternative potential(s) of a newly founded biennial in the context of Greek governance’ PhD City University, London, 27 October 2014.
• Bridget Tracy Tan, ‘Gestures and Acclamations: some assembly required’ PhD Chelsea School of Art, University of the Arts, London, 22 July 2014.
• Nuria Querol, ‘The Impact of Globalisation on Curating Contemporary Art in India 1990-2012’ PhD Royal College of Art, London, 2 April 2014.
• Michael Frederick Rattray, ‘Functional Anarchism(s) and the Theory of Global Contemporary Art,’ PhD Concordia University, Montreal, 14 January 2014.
• Valentin Roma, ‘Economy: Picasso,’ PhD University of Southampton, 19 June 2013.
• Ana Beatriz Ferreira da Rocha e Silva, ‘Spectacular architecture, identity crisis, cultural politics and the reinvention of the significance of museums of modern art,’ PhD University of the Arts (Camberwell College), 25 June 2011.
• Dennis De Lucca, ‘The Contribution of the Jesuits to Military Architecture in the Baroque Era,’ PhD University of Liverpool, 25 May 2010.
• Claudia Lima, ‘Representations of the city: Porto after 2001, Perceptions and Change,’ PhD University of Liverpool, 26 April 2010.
• Kostas Bassanos, ‘Gilles Deleuze’s Baroque Fold and the Transparency Effect: Essential Elements for a Contemporary Discourse on Baroque and New Media,’ PhD University of Southampton Winchester School of Art, 26 January 2010.
• Beccy Kennedy, ‘Picturing Migration: Presenting Art Works by Artists from South Korea working in Britain, 2006-2008,’ PhD Manchester Metropolitan University, 25 November 2009.
• Georgina Webb-Dickin, ‘Postmodernism and the Fall of the Berlin Wall,’ MPhil (B) University of Birmingham, 23 November 2009.
• Grant Pooke, ‘Francis Klingender (1907-1955): An Intellectual Biography,’ PhD University of Southampton, Winchester School of Art, 9 January 2007.
• Peter Martin, ‘The Late-Georgian Trade in Swiss Stained Glass,’ MSc (Eng) by Research – University of Leeds, 20 November 2006.
• Michael Belshaw, ‘Art, Writing, and Autobiography,’ PhD The Open University, 7 November 2006.
• Michael Wilson, ‘Conflicted Faculties: Rhetoric, Knowledge Conflict and the University,’ PhD National College of Art and Design, National University of Ireland, Dublin, 15 September 2006.
• Rebecca Niblock, ‘Political Meaning in the Paintings of Barnett Newman,’ PhD University of Bristol, 25 October 2004.
• Helen L. Pheby, ‘“Wot For?” - “Why Not?”: Controversial Public Art - An Examination of the Terms,’ PhD University of Liverpool, 20 May 2003.
• Malcolm Richard O’Kelly, ‘Myth and Tragedy. The Influence of the Figure and the Classical on the Work of Mark Rothko,’ MPhil University of Birmingham, 7 January 2003.
• Geffrey Corbett Green, ‘Walter Spies, Tourist Art and Balinese Art in Inter-War Colonial Bali,’ PhD Sheffield Hallam University, 17 July 2002.
• Derek Horton, ‘A Theoretical and Practical Investigation into the Embodiment of Histories, Use-values and Exchange-values in Objects, and its Implications for their Sculptural Use in Art Practice,’ PhD Leeds Metropolitan University, 15 July 2002.
• Anthony Donovan, ‘On the Phenomenon of Mail Art and Its Relation to and Critique of Mainstream Art,’ PhD Manchester Metropolitan University, September 2001.
• Fiona Candlin, ‘Artwork and the boundaries of academia: a theoretical/practical negotiation of contemporary art practice within the conventions for academic research,’ PhD University of Keele, October 1998.
• Cynn Bang-Heun, ‘Deconstruction and the Process of Erasure-in-Becoming in Culture,’ PhD University of Leeds, September 1997.
• Chris Riding, ‘The Art Criticism and History of Michael Fried,’ PhD University of Leeds, November 1996.
• Alison Bracker, ‘A History of the International Art Journal Artforum,’ PhD University of Leeds, March 1995.

Research Degree Students (completed)

• Narendra Bahudur Saur: ‘The Art of Peace? Dêudã Culture and Its Role in ‘Peacebuilding’ in Nepal’s Far-Western Communities,’ 8 July 2025, PhD (Director of Studies 2022-25, UCA).
• Rufaro Kaseke: ‘Reimagining Migration: Investigating the Impact of Mobile Phones on
  Contemporary Zimbabwean Migration to the UK,’ 29 October 2024, PhD (Director of Studies 2022-4, UCA).
• Vivienne Barsky: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, and US Cultural Funding since the 1950s, 23 May 2019, PhD (Director of Studies 2015-2019, BCU).
• Rawan Sharaf: Palestinian Contemporary Art and the Qalandiya Biennial, PhD 20 May 2019 (Director of Studies 2016-2019, BCU).
• Hazel Atashroo: ‘GLC Visual Arts Policy and Practice,’ PhD awarded August 2017 (University of Southampton, Director of Studies 2013-2017).
• Oliver Peterson Gilbert: ‘Pop Art Redefined: British Pop of the 1960s: Towards a Social and Institutional History,’ PhD awarded December 2015 (University of Southampton, Director of Studies 2012-2015).
• Judith Walsh: ‘Jack Smith, John Berger and British Kitchen Sink painting’ PhD awarded July 2013 (University of Southampton, Director of Studies 2007-2013).
• Jane Clayton: ‘New Technologies and social change: a case-study of FACT,’ Liverpool (University of Liverpool/AHRC candidate) PhD awarded June 2012 (University of Liverpool, Director of Studies 2009-2011).
• Antoinette McKane: ‘Tate Liverpool: Lessons for Regeneration 1988-2008’ (University of Liverpool/AHRC candidate): PhD awarded July 2012 (University of Liverpool, Director of Studies 2007-2011).
• August Davis: ‘Martha Rosler,’ PhD awarded October 2010 (University of Liverpool, Director of Studies).
• Lyn Hildytch: ‘Lee Miller: Surrealism and Second World War Photography,’ PhD awarded May 2010 (Liverpool Hope University: External supervisor, degree validated by University of Liverpool).
• Jill Townsley: ‘Moments of Repetition in the Process of Art Production: Temporalities, Labour, Appropriations and Authorships,’ PhD awarded March 2010 (University of Chester: External supervisor, degree validated by University of Liverpool) theory-practice degree.
• Tom Ratcliffe: ‘Between Paris and New York: Abstract Art in England from 1945-1965,’ PhD awarded December 2009 (Leeds Metropolitan University: External supervisor).
• Jill Gibbon: ‘A Radical Witness: An Assessment of Ideas and Uses of Presence on Location in Reportage,’ PhD awarded April 2008 (Wimbledon College of Art, University of Surrey: External supervisor) theory-practice degree.
• Bryan Banks: ‘Facture and Paint in Art since the Renaissance,’ PhD awarded December 2006 (University of Liverpool: Director of Studies).
• Jeffrey Adams: ‘Three Graphic Novels: Realism and Politics,’ PhD awarded October 2003 (University of Liverpool: Director of Studies).
• Derek Horton: ‘A theoretical and practical investigation into the embodiment of histories, use-values and exchange-values in objects, and its implications for their sculptural use in art practice,’ PhD awarded July 2002 (Leeds Metropolitan University: Director of Studies) theory-practice degree.
• Pam Meecham: ‘Ben Shahn and American Modernism,’ PhD awarded May 2002 (University of Keele: Director of Studies).

Current UCA Research Degree Students and Research Areas

• Jamal Awar (Lebanese film and the Civil War) theory/practice.
• Maisaa Daher (Palestinian women artists) theory/practice.
• Badra Larbaoui (The Caftan in Algerian culture and history) theory/practice.
• Ching Anson Yip (1970s popular culture in late-British Hong Kong).
• Eleni Giannouli (Art as therapeutic practice) theory/practice.
• Charikleia Papapostolou (Art as therapeutic practice) theory/practice.
• Sofia Cotrona (British Raj contributions to the Second World War/Imperial War Museum exhibition).
• Maria Frantzoulou (Fashion and sustainability).