In February, Maggie Matić visited the Associate Studio Programme 11. Matić is a researcher and curator engaged in contemporary visual feminist cultures, queer and crip theory, and in supporting and creating space for the development of artists. During the visit, we spoke about the role of the curator, what creating the arc of an artist’s career can look like, the function of not-for-profit organisations, and the ways artists can be affiliated with and supported to make work. We also reflected on how artists create and find development opportunities, and the value of collaboration and care in sustaining practice.
Matić has over ten years of experience in the industry, working across curating, programming, and writing. They have held roles at institutions including Tate and Studio Voltaire, and currently curate for Auto Italia. Beginning their career in academia and research, Matić completed a PhD in feminist visual cultures following undergraduate research grounded in philosophy. This led us to consider the relationship between research and practice, and whether these can or should be understood as separate.
Alongside sharing work, we discussed the role of social media in the contemporary art scene, particularly the lack of nuance in digital spaces and how this contributes to artists feeling pressure to brand themselves as influencers. We reflected on the difficulty of sustaining research-led, risk-taking practices under these conditions, and the importance of opportunities such as residencies in creating space for process, allowing artists to put down roots and develop practices with longevity. Kit Lovelock
