speaking & teaching
‘How to Write about Contemporary Art’ launch, with Kenneth Goldsmith, 192 Books, NYC, 2015
Williams has been a Senior Lecturer on the MFA curating programme at Goldsmiths College, University of London, (2008-23) where she taught art writing, and was a regular Guest Lecturer on the MA in Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London. She has taught and given talks at fine art and curating programmes throughout the UK, including the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University; Royal College of Art; Frieze Academy; Westminster University; Central St Martins School of Art; the Slade School of Art; Kingston University; South Bank Centre (all in London); Bournemouth Art Institute, University of Bristol; Leeds Beckett University; Leeds Metropolitan University; Northampton University; Norwich University; NYU Abu Dhabi; UCL Doha, Qatar; and the Whitworth Museum, Manchester.
Dr. Williams has conducted workshops on art criticism as part of the Guardian’s ‘Masterclass’ series.
Williams has given gallery talks and participated in panels, and symposia on contemporary art at institutions including the Tate Modern, Tate Britain, the Royal Academy; South London Gallery; Fashion Institute of Technology (New York); Serpentine Gallery; Museum of Modern Art Oxford; Whitechapel Gallery; the ICA; the Goethe Institute; and Nottingham Contemporary; among many others.
In conversation with Katrina Palmer and Oreet Ashery, Mead Art Gallery, Warwick Centre for the Arts, 2023.
Online conversation with Amalia Ulman, 7 Sept 2020.
‘ON&BY Andy Warhol’, book launch talk, Whitechapel Gallery, 2016. Photo Chloe Grimshaw.
speaking at ‘Writing into Practice‘ symposium, Feb 2019, with Katrina Palmer, Erica Scourti, Nick Thurston, Duncan Wooldridge, in collaboration with New Contemporaries, South London Gallery and Camberwell School of the Arts
with curator Omar Kholief, on Resonance
FM radio, June 2014
Gilda Williams, Sally O’Reilly, Julian Stallabrass, ‘Whitechapel/Art Monthly “Banjos at Dawn” Debates: For and Against the Interview’, 2010
speaking + teaching
2023
In conversation with Katrina Palmer and Oreet Ashery, Mead Art Gallery, Warwick Centre for the Arts, 23 Feb
2021
interview, Lawrence Weiner, organised by the South London Gallery, Tues, 30 Mar, 6pm GMT/1pm EST
lecture, ‘Effective Art Writing’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London
lecture, ‘Hito Steyerl’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London
visiting tutor, MFA programme, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University
2020
online artist’s conversation, ‘Amalia Ulman‘, Tate, Sept
online workshop, ‘Writing about Art, for Artists’, Acme Studios, London
lecture, ‘Effective Art Writing’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London
visiting tutor, MFA programme, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University
teaching, ‘Writing for Artists‘, Goldsmiths MFA, Mar-May
teaching, ‘Writing for Artists‘, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University, Feb
2019
symposium, ‘Autodidacts’, La Fondation Vincent van Gogh, organized by Bica Curiger, with Diedrich Diederichsen, Charlotte Laubard, Wato Tsereteli, Susanne von Falkenhausen, Natsuko Uchino, Raphaela Vogel, Mathis Collins, Peter Herzog, and Giorgi Khoshtaria, Arles. Publication in preparation.
lecture, ‘How to Write About Art’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London
talk, ‘Art Writing Basics: Writing v. Typing about Art’, The Value of Visual Literacy panel, New College of the Humanities, London
talk and workshop, ‘Absolute Beginners: How to Write about Contemporary Art‘, Unity Arts, Hackney, London, Jun
talk and workshop, ‘Writing the Exhibition’, Whitechapel Gallery, London, Jun
talk and workshop, ‘Writing Artist’s Statements’, Spike Island, Bristol, May
guest lecturer, UCL, Doha, Qatar, May
talk, ‘In Conversation with Phyllida Barlow’, Royal Academy of Art, London, Apr
‘Documentas 10-14: Lessons in Curating’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art,London, Apr
talk and workshop, ‘Writing Artist’s Statements’, Chisenhale Gallery, ‘Into the Wild’ programme, London, Mar
‘Hito Steyerl’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London, Mar
presentation, ‘Writing Artist’s Statements’, SPACE, with Cedar Lewisohn and Rebecca Morrill, Feb
chair, ‘Writing into Art Symposium‘, with Katrina Palmer, Erica Scourti, Nick Thurston, Duncan Wooldridge, New Contemporaries/South London Gallery/Camberwell College of Arts, London, Feb
presentation, ‘How to Write about Contemporary Art’, Lithuanian edition, Art Book Fair, Vilnius, Feb
guest lecturer, Norwich University of the Arts, Jan
guest lecturer, Ruskin School of Art, Oxford University, Jan
2018
talk, ‘Men are Monsters! Feminism, Gothic and the Story of Louise Bourgeois‘, Autumn Art Lectures, University of Bristol, Nov
talk, ‘In Conversation with Joyce Pensato’, South London Gallery, Sept
day course, ‘Writing the Exhibition’, Whitechapel Art Gallery, ‘Inside the Gallery’, June
moderator, ‘The Presence of the Artist: The Successful Artist?‘, panel discussion, Royal Academy of Arts, June
talk, ‘Andreas Eriksson: Kria’, Stephen Friedman Gallery, London, May
book launch, Talking Art vol. 2, in conversation with Art Monthly editor Patricia Bickers, Apr
artist’s talk, Mark Dion, ‘Bureau for the Centre for the Study of Surrealism and Its Legacy’, Bookworks, London, book launch, Feb
2017
lecture, ‘Introduction to Curating’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London, Mar
talk, ‘Writing v Typing: On Writing About Art’, Hangar Bicocca, Milan, 24 May
talk and workshop, ‘Art-Writing for Curators’, Royal College of Art, Milan, 1 February
talk, ‘The Tao of Warhol: Art and Spirituality’, ICA, London, 18 January
2016
talk, ‘Andy Warhol: A Most Underestimated Artist’, Whitworth Museum, Manchester, 13 Dec
talk, ‘Introduction to Curating’, frieze academy, 30 November
talk and workshop, ‘Writing for Artists’, Chisenhale Gallery, ‘Into the Wild’ programme, 21 Nov
talk, ‘Art Writing for Curators’, South Bank Centre, with Ralph Rugoff and Morgan Quaintance, Oct
in conversation with artists Yinka Shonibare MBE and David Shrigley, Royal Academy, Oct
lecture, ‘How to Write About Art’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, 7 October
lecture, ‘Art and Artists in London’, Contemporary Art in London, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, 5 October
talk, in conversation with artists Bob and Roberta Smith and Alice Channer, Contemporary Art in London, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, Oct
guest lecturer, New York University Abu Dhabi, 23-29 April
guest lecturer, Northampton University School of the Arts, 18 April
book launch: ON&BY Andy Warhol, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London, 17 March
talk: ‘Andy Warhol: Artist of the Century’
day course, ‘How to Write about Art’, Whitechapel Art Gallery, ‘Inside the Gallery’, 11 March
guest lecturer, ‘INSIDE/OUT’ lecture, Leeds Beckett University, 2 March
in conversation with Richard Deacon, Plinth, London, 3 March
2015
guest speaker, ‘On Art Writing’, Mark Devereux Projects, Manchester
guest speaker, ‘VII Congreso Internacional de Arte en el Caribe: Las Escrituras de las Artes’, Cartagena
in conversation with Varda Caivano, Victoria Miro Gallery, London
in conversation with Kenneth Goldsmith, NY book launch for How to Write about Contemporary Art, 192 Books, New York
Guardian Masterclass, ‘How to Write Art Criticism’
Guardian Masterclass, ‘Being an Art Critic’, with Brian Dillon
Guardian Masterclass, ‘Writing and pitching art criticism’, with Tom Morton
workshop, ‘Writing about Photography’, The Photographer’s Gallery, London
workshop, ‘Curatorial Directions: Writing the Exhibition’, day workshop, MAC, Belfast
2014
workshop, ‘How to Write about Art’, Whitechapel Gallery, London
panelist, Writing on Art, The Drawing Room, London
artist’s talk, ‘Jonathan Wateridge’, Wilkinson Gallery, London
artist’s talk with Lawrence Weiner, South London Gallery, London
talk with art critics Tom Morton (frieze) and Oliver Basciano (Art Review), Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
Guardian Masterclass, ‘How to Write Art Criticism’, The Guardian, London
moderator, ‘The Sculpture Question’, Folkestone Triennial, with Nicolas Bourriaud, Iain Sinclair, Sarah Staton
radio broadcast, ‘Reconsidering Warhol’, Resonance FM 104.4
panelist, An Insider’s Guide to the Art World: Art Critics, White Cube Bermondsey/IESA event, London, with Jennifer Higgie, Brian Dillon, and Michael Bracewell
2013
panel discussion, artist Nina Danino, ‘Communion’, Heath Street Baptist Church, Hampstead, London
artist’s talk with Jockum Nordstrum and Emma Hart, Camden Arts Centre, London
artist’s talk with Giorgio Sadotti, Swiss Cottage Library, London; Ikon Gallery, Birmingham
artist’s talk with Charles Avery at Whitechapel Gallery, London
talk following the screening of Craneway Event by Tacita Dean, Barbican Art Gallery, London
artist’s talk with Matt Bryans, Kate MacGarry Gallery, London
2012
interview with Martin Parr and Grayson Perry for the frieze launch of yoox.com
online interview with Grayson Perry for yoox.com, Victoria Miro Gallery, London
‘Haunted Time, Dark Vision: Defining the Gothic Aesthetic’, Summer, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London
gallery talk, ‘Fiona Rae: Maybe you can live on the moon in the next century’, Leeds Art Gallery
‘In Conversation: Alice Channer’, South London Gallery, London
‘Culture Now: Jane and Louise Wilson’, ICA talks, London
‘Defining the Gothic Aesthetic in Contemporary Art’, Royal College of Art, London
2011
‘Template of Terror: The Revival of the Gothic’, chair of two-day symposium on the contemporary gothic with Lindsay Seers, Catherine Spooner, Fred Botting, Avril Horner, Paul Hodkinson, Jonathan Jones, ICA London, June
‘In conversation with George Shaw’, South London Gallery
Folkestone Biennial Tour, Summer
gallery talk on Sarah Lucas, ‘Late at Tate’, Tate Britain, London
2010
‘Critic’s Circle: British Art Show 7’, with JJ Charlesworth and Sam Thorne, Nottingham Contemporary, November
‘Art Monthly Debates: For and Against the Interview’ with Jullian Stallabrass, Whitechapel Gallery, London
‘Interview with Yinka Shonibare MBE’, BP Art Lecture Award, Tate Britain, London
‘On Ruins’, Resonance FM
2009
‘Andy Warhol, Death and Disasters: A Modern Danse Macabre’, Courtauld Institute, London
‘Making Monsters: Gothic Themes and Processes in Contemporary Art’, University of Westminster
‘Monstrous Media/Spectral Subjects’, symposium organised by Fred Botting and Catherine Spooner with Marina Warner et al., July
‘Subculture and Style’ symposium, in conjunction with ‘Gothic: Dark Glamour’ paper on ‘Making Monsters: Gothic in Contemporary Art’, FIT Museum, New York City, NY
guest lecturer, ‘Gothic in Contemporary Art’, Art Institute of Bournemouth
lecturer, MFA curating, Goldsmiths College, University of London (ongoing)
2008
‘Gothic in Contemporary Art’, guest lecturer, MA in Curating, Goldsmiths College, London
‘Richard Prince’, symposium in conjunction with the Serpentine Gallery, with Nancy Spector, Richard Meyer, Goethe Institute, London
film presentation, ‘Cindy Sherman: Office Killer’, Tate Modern, London
‘The Gothic’, keynote speaker, ‘Curating Contemporary Art’, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds
‘In conversation: John Stezaker’, Stanley Picker Public Lectures, Kingston University, London
‘The Gothic’, Royal College of Art, London
gallery talk, ‘Maria Lassnig’, Serpentine Gallery, London
visiting lecturer, Goldsmiths College, University of London, ‘The Gothic in Contemporary Art’
2007
‘Louise Bourgeois’, Tate Modern, London
‘In conversation with Christian Marclay’, Tate Modern, London
‘The Gothic’, Slade School of Art, London
‘Identity and Performativity’, symposium, Tate Modern, London on ‘Warhol’s Women’
‘Andy Warhol: Filmmaker’, Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London, MA Photography programme
2006
‘Damien Hirst: Murderme Collection’, Serpentine Gallery, London
gallery talk, ‘Poetry and Dream’, Tate Modern, London
gallery talk, ‘Thomas Demand’, Serpentine Gallery, London
gallery talk, ‘Gillian Wearing’, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
gallery talk, ‘Louise Bourgeois/Francis Bacon’, Tate Modern, London
2005
gallery talk, ‘Jeff Wall’, Tate Modern, London
2003
symposium, ‘Humour as a Subversive Strategy in Art’, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
gallery talk, ‘Monica Bonvicini’, Oxford Museum of Modern Art, Oxford
symposium, ‘Days Like These: Tate Triennial’, Tate Modern, London
lecture, ‘Stan Douglas’, Sotheby’s Institute, London
2002
gallery talk, ‘Nan Goldin’, Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
‘Raymond Pettibon: A Reading’, with Sarah Lucas, Chris Ofili, Michael Clark et al., Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
panelist, ‘Citibank Photography Prize 2001’, Photographers Gallery, London
1999-02
Visiting tutor, MA Fine Arts and ‘Creative Curating’ courses, Goldsmiths’ College, London
2001
gallery talk, ‘Doug Aitken’, Serpentine Gallery, London
gallery talk, ‘Boris Mikhailov’, Saatchi Gallery, London
‘Pipilotti Rist’, in conversation with artist, Tate Modern, London
gallery talk, ‘Dan Flavin’, Serpentine Gallery, London
gallery talk, ‘Citibank Photography Prize 2000’, Photographers Gallery, London
1999
gallery talk, ‘Jane and Louise Wilson’, Serpentine Gallery, London
panelist, ‘New Art for Cool Britannia’, Culture Wars symposium, Riverside Studios, London
1998
‘New British Art’, roundtable discussion, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
‘cream: Contemporary Art in Culture’, symposium, Cooper Union, with Jerry Saltz, Francesco Bonami, Okwui Enwezor, Dan Cameron, New York
‘Beyond the Artist, A London Biennale?’, panel, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London
1997
gallery talk, ‘Italian Contemporary Art’, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London