Thinking Back, Making Forward

To PhD or not to PhD: reflections from 30 artists-turned-doctoral candidates

In the last three decades, creative practice disciplines, such as art, design, architecture, creative writing, fashion and others, have undergone a "research turn," strongly stimulated by doctoral programs to deepen artists' reflections on the roots, relevance and urgencies of their work. For Thinking Back, Making Forward, the editors issued an open call to ask artists, spanning disciplines and nationalities, how PhD research has influenced their making and thinking. Through its 30 contributions, the book tackles these questions in an open way, addressing equally the advantages and disadvantages of the creep of the PhD into artistic practice. Each essay delves into the personal experiences of the artist-academic, who discloses their creative, material and professional motivations for pursuing a doctorate. Whether driven by mentorship, archival access, structure, funding or a professorship, all of the contributors provide candid, in-depth reflections of their time in academia.