Professor Jorella Andrews

Staff details

Position

Emeritus Professor

Department

Visual Cultures

Email

j.g.andrews (@gold.ac.uk)

Trained in fine art and art theory, Jorella’s work focuses on philosophical inquiry, the image-world, and art practice

Having trained as a fine artist, worked in media, and re-trained as an art theorist, Jorella Andrews joined the Visual Cultures Department at Goldsmiths in 1998, working with Irit Rogoff and colleagues to help develop the emergent field of visual cultures from pedagogical as well as theoretical perspectives. She served as Head of Department from 2009 to 2013.

Andrews' work examines the relations between philosophical inquiry, the image-world, and art practice. Her current focus is on the practical potential of aesthetics and image-based phenomenological research to intervene in key areas of contemporary concern such as the development of non-ego-centric approaches to personal and collective identity, the importance of self-directed, situated learning in academic and non-academic contexts, and the development of non-coercive approaches to change-making in personal and public life.

Academic qualifications

PhD in Art Theory, Essex University: Merleau-Ponty and the Question of Painting 1997
MA in Art Theory (with Distinction), Essex University: Merleau-Ponty on Intersubjectivity 1992
BA (Hons) in Fine Art Printmaking, Central School of Art, London 1984

Teaching and supervision

I teach two undergraduate modules, ‘Ornamentation’ and ‘Materiality,’ that explore aesthetics and the socio-politics of style, and an MA Core Course 'Aesthetics and the Stewardship of Public Space'. The PhD dissertations I supervise have a common orientation towards phenomenological and aesthetic themes or have a focus on processes of making.

Research interests

Key publications by Andrews that explore the intersections between philosophical inquiry, the image-world, and art practice in terms of their impact on lived experience include the essay ‘Interviewing Images: How Visual Research Using IPA (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis) Can Illuminate the Change-Making Possibilities of Place, Space, and Dwelling (2020) and her two monographs, ‘The Question of Painting: Rethinking Thought with Merleau-Ponty’ and 'Showing Off! A Philosophy of Image' (2018 and 2014, both Bloomsbury). She is now researching ‘How to Turn Around Trouble: Aesthetic Strategies for Deep Change’ (working title), which combines theoretical reflection with findings drawn from collaborative community-based projects. A book chapter entitled ‘Pictorial Rationalities and why they matter in our struggles for identity and community’ is forthcoming.

Andrews also advocates for visual culture and art history beyond academia. She is the editor of the ‘Visual Cultures as…’ series (Sternberg Press; 5 titles) and has written two books collaboratively with illustrators: ‘This is Cézanne’ (2015) with Patrick Vale and ‘This is Rembrandt’ (2016) with Nick Higgins, both part of Laurence King Publishing’s ‘This is…’ series.

More generally, Andrews is curious about 20th-century and contemporary visual culture in its diversity and has a longstanding interest in 17th-century Dutch art and in debates and queries of a theological nature.

Andrews has a long history of involvement in local community-based activities as a volunteer, activities which have been increasingly intertwining with her academic concerns and providing opportunities for site-specific research and development. For instance, she has co-facilitated a local, faith-based arts forum with painter Walter Hayn since 2013 and is Chair of Albion Millennium Green Trust, which stewards a small public green space in London in terms of its biodiversity and as a site for community gatherings and events.

Featured publications

2020: Interviewing Images
An exploration of how visual research using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) can illuminate the change-making possibilities of place, space, and dwelling

2018: The Question of Painting: Rethinking Thought with Merleau-Ponty
A phenomenological exploration of painterly practices as modes of 'material' thought.

2014: Showing Off! A Philosophy of Image
Offers an ethics of visuality in which phenomenological explorations of human and non-human self-showing are prioritised.

Publications and research outputs

Book

Andrews, Jorella G. and Durner, Leah. 2019. Painting, Largesse and Life: A Conversation with Leah Durner. New York: Leah Durner.

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2018. The Question of Painting: Rethinking Thought with Merleau-Ponty. London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781472574282

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2016. This is Rembrandt. London: Laurence King. ISBN 9781780677453

Edited Book

Andrews, Jorella G., ed. 2024. Visual Cultures as World Forming. London: Sternberg Press. ISBN 9783956795374

Andrews, Jorella G., ed. 2021. Visual Cultures as Time Travel. Berlin: Sternberg Press. ISBN 9783956795381

Andrews, Jorella G., ed. 2016. Visual Cultures as Opportunity. Berlin: Sternberg Press. ISBN 3956791002

Book Section

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2023. Quodlibet and Cortesia: Alastair Gordon’s Painterly Debates with Art, Nature, and ‘the Real’. In: Jorella G. Andrews, ed. Alastair Gordon – Quodlibet. London: Anomie Publishing, pp. 13-23. ISBN 9781910221488

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2022. Pictorial Rationalities and why they matter in our struggles for identity and community. In: Helen Fielding and Mariana Ortega, eds. Life in Art—Phenomenological Approaches to Aesthetics and World-Making. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2016. The Socialities of Things. In: Barbara Kapusta; Rocco Pagel and Jenni Tischer, eds. Dinge und Dialoge. Berlin and Vienna: Saprophyt, pp. 10-15.

Article

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2024. The Horns and the Craftsmen: Artistry as Powerful, Peaceable Warfare. The Big Picture, 09,

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2023. Slow looking: Frans Hals’s portrait of a newly-wed. RA The Royal Academy of Arts Magazine(160), p. 29. ISSN 0956-9332

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2023. In the Studio with Mary Abma. The Big Picture, 07, pp. 44-47.

Conference or Workshop Item

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2024. 'Red Ribbon Living Well Sewing Workshops (March-May 2024)'. In: Red Ribbon Sewing Workshops. Metro, New Cross, United Kingdom 1 March 2024 - 3 May 2024.

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2023. 'Red Ribbon Living Well: World AIDS Day 2023'. In: Red Ribbon Living Well: World AIDS Day 2023. The Somerville, New Cross, London, United Kingdom 8 December 2023.

Andrews, Jorella G.. 2023. 'Paul Cézanne: Drawing as Deep De-scription'. In: Royal Academy Short Course: Exploring Impressionism. The Royal Academy, London, United Kingdom 3 December 2023.

Professional projects

Trustee, Association for Art History

Staff details

Position

Department

Email

Academic qualifications

Teaching and supervision

Research interests

Featured publications

Publications and research outputs

Book

Edited Book

Book Section

Article

Conference or Workshop Item

Art Object

Broadcast

Digital

Film/Video

Printed Ephemera

Professional Activity

Project

Professional projects