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).

Graduate Internship:
I was the first remote intern with the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art’s Curatorial Department. I assisted with research concerning early Connecticut clockmakers.

Other Experience:
Over the past semester, I volunteered at the Vanderbilt Museum, Mansion, and Planetarium in Centerport, Long Island with the collections department. Working with the natural history collections at this institution allowed me to experience specimen preservation techniques and historical taxidermy care, complementing my studies at BGC with applied experience during the remote semester.

Digital Project Requirement:
For my digital project, I created an online tour-based website to accompany the guided house and garden–tour offered at the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Gardens in Connecticut, where I work as a summer museum guide. The website offers a historical overview of several locations throughout town, along with recent and archival photographs, to allow visitors to experience the town’s history beyond the museum.

Qualifying Paper:
“A Little World of Themselves”: Women and the Cultivation of Fern Cases in the Nineteenth Century

Describe one surprising discovery during your QP research:
While researching fern cases for my QP, I encountered several intriguing comments in nineteenth-century American home care guides that connected houseplants to health and sanitation, particularly in urban households. Although this was not the primary focus of my research, I was extremely interested in this connection since over the past year of quarantine, health and home décor are omnipresent topics in my life. I was able to explore this topic in-depth through my participation in a student symposium in January. My additional research for the presentation introduced me to additional elements of classism and social reform that I did not expect to encounter while researching houseplants. This was a fascinating topic that allowed me to enrich my understanding of nineteenth-century American culture and the significance of houseplants for social systems. I was grateful for the opportunity to delve into this unique topic and share it with the BGC community through a presentation with fellow students.

Next Steps:
My perfect post-BGC dream job is a curatorial position at a museum with an encyclopedic collection, preferably in New England. While I am focused on applying to positions in New England or New York, I am willing to relocate for the right position.