Maria Elena Buszek, Ph.D. is a scholar, critic, curator, and Professor of Art History at the University of Colorado Denver, where she teaches courses on Modern and contemporary art and design histories.
Her recent publications include the books Pin-Up Grrrls: Feminism, Sexuality, Popular Culture and Extra/ordinary: Craft and contemporary art; contributions to the anthologies Punkademics: The Basement Show in the Ivory Tower and Design History Beyond the Canon; catalogue essays for numerous international exhibitions; and articles and criticism in such journals as Art in America, Art Journal, Flash Art, and TDR: The Journal of Performance Studies. With Hilary Robinson, she edited the 2019 anthology of new writing, A Companion to Feminist Art. She has also been a regular contributor to the popular feminist magazine BUST since 1999. Her current book project, Art of Noise, explores the ties between contemporary feminist art and popular music.
Dr. Buszek is also a prolific independent curator, who has previously worked at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
In 2022, Dr. Buszek was inducted into the fellowship of the University of Colorado’s President’s Teaching Scholars. The President’s Teaching Scholars Program honors faculty from the university’s four campuses who “embody teaching, scholarship, creative work and research with excellence in all.”
Areas of Expertise
Modernist Art
Contemporary Art
History of Design
Women's and Gender Studies
Visual and Popular Culture
Education, Licensure & Certifications
University of Kansas
MA; History of Art
Ph.D.; History of Art
Creighton University
BA; Art History and Mass Communications
Awards
SELECTED RECENT AWARDS AND ACCOLADES:
2022 Terra Foundation for American Art
Terra Foundation Research Travel Grant
2022 University of Colorado President’s Teaching Scholar
2019/2020 Distinguished Faculty Lectureship Nominee and Finalist
College of Arts and Media, University of Colorado Denver
2018/2019 Excellence in Teaching Award
College of Arts and Media, University of Colorado Denver
2019 Bensussen Distinguished Arts Scholar
Chapman University Department of Art and Art History (Orange, CA)
2018 AND 2014 Elizabeth D. Gee Memorial Lectureship Nominee
2015/2016 Faculty Research and Creative Work Award
For research and creative work, College of Arts and Media, University of Colorado Denver
2014/2015 Faculty Service Award
For academic and professional service, College of Arts and Media, University of Colorado Denver
2011-12 Lo Presti Prize: Best Essay Collection
Extra/Ordinary: Craft and Contemporary Art, Art Libraries Society of North America
Affiliations
Member, College Art Association
Member, American Studies Association Founding Board
Colorado Committee for the National Museum of Women in the Arts