Research

what can I learn about this? 3. Research

With a hunch that there’s a story to be told from this object, a curator does research to build a story. There are many different stories, and many different types of research and critical lenses through which to look at art, including formal, historical, biographical, political, and more.

Key Skills

— Primary & secondary research — Research analysis — Using different critical lenses

Some examples of critical lenses

Historical: What was the context when this piece was made? What larger stories is it a part of? Biographical:How does information about the artist’s life affect the piece? Political: How does the piece relate to politics and power?

Keep In Mind! All exhibits should tell a story or make an argument. Research is how this point of view is constructed and presented.