Julia Silverman is an art historian who works at the intersection of craft and design, Indigenous Studies, and the history of science.
Broadly, she is interested in craft as a mobile form of knowledge. How do techniques, materials, and forms move over time and space, and how is that movement entwined with other socio-political systems? How do embodied craft practices put pressure on academic modes of knowledge production, and how might they prompt new methodologies for historical research? In addressing these questions, Julia’s research focuses on 20th-century Native American and American visual culture. Her first book concerns the politics of Indigenous craft revitalization during the 1930s and 1940s, arguing that during the interwar period, craft became a central mechanism through which Native American artists and intellectuals reframed colonial concepts of tradition, authenticity, and history. At Princeton, she will also begin work on a second book project concerning intersections between craft and military technology during World War II.
Throughout her work, Julia is particularly interested in critical examination of institutions and structures guiding academic research. To this end, she regularly co-organizes fora for scholars, community stakeholders, artists, and the broader public to discuss topics and methods pertinent to the study and practice of visual culture. Julia received her Ph.D. in the History of Art and Architecture from Harvard University in 2026 and holds an M.A. in the History of Art from Williams College and B.A. in Art History from The University of Chicago.
When she isn’t studying the history of craft, Julia also maintains an interdisciplinary studio practice, mostly recently focusing on metalsmithing.
