Bard Graduate Center is devoted to the study of decorative arts, design history, and material culture through research, advanced degrees, exhibitions, publications, and events.

Bard Graduate Center advances the study of decorative arts, design history, and material culture through its object-centered approach to teaching, research, exhibitions, publications, and events.

At BGC, we study the human past and present through their material expressions. We focus on objects and other material forms—from those valued for their aesthetic elements to the ordinary things used in everyday life.

Our accomplished interdisciplinary faculty inspires and prepares students in our MA and PhD programs for successful careers in academia, museums, and the private sector. We bring equal intellectual rigor to our acclaimed exhibitions, award-winning catalogues and scholarly publications, and innovative public programs, and we view all of these integrated elements as vital to our curriculum.

BGC’s campus comprises a state-of-the-art academic programs building at 38 West 86th Street, a gallery at 18 West 86th Street, and a residence hall at 410 West 58th Street. A new collection study center will open at 8 West 86th Street in 2026.

Founded by Dr. Susan Weber in 1993, Bard Graduate Center has become the preeminent institute for academic research and exhibition of decorative arts, design history, and material culture. BGC is an accredited unit of Bard College and a member of the Association of Research Institutes in Art History (ARIAH).

Susan Weber. Photo by Da Ping Luo.

Dear Friends,

This special issue of Bard Graduate Center’s newsletter is primarily devoted to our alumni. I’ve long said that they are the institution’s best ambassadors and their post-BGC work is a measure of the outstanding quality of our MA and PhD programs. Although we include news of their achievements in each issue, it’s wonderful to have this opportunity to share more about their scholarly and curatorial pursuits.

This focus reflects an important institutional priority. Faculty and staff in Academic Programs, Advancement, Communications, and Public Humanities + Research are collaborating to connect more deeply with our graduates by planning special events, bringing alumni back to 86th Street, and creating connections between them and our current students whenever possible. I had the pleasure of hosting nearly 50 alumni from all over the country at our Autumn Alumni Gathering, and it was wonderful to see so many former students in person and learn more about the impact they are making in our field.

At the moment, we have two of our largest classes of MA students ever, soon to join the alumni network themselves, and the ambition and energy they bring to their studies inspires the faculty and staff as well. After the flurry of final papers and exams, we are all looking forward to a restful semester break, and I hope that you will also have some peaceful moments to recharge before the new year.

Looking ahead, we will resume our exhibitions program in fall 2025. In the meantime, please save the date for the annual Iris Foundation Awards luncheon on April 23.

If you are impressed with the successes of our alumni, please consider making a gift to support scholarships for current students who will continue to lead the field of decorative arts, design history, and material culture. The quality of education we provide for these students depends on the generosity of our donors. It would be an honor to count you among our supporters this year.

See you in 2025!

Susan Weber

Director and Founder