Dr. Dena Shottenkirk
Epistemologist/ meta-object artist, and founder of the non-profit talkPOPc: the Philosopher’s Ontological Party Club (formerly, The System Project’s POPc)
Assistant Professor
Philosophy, Brooklyn College
Location: 4300 Boylan Hall
Phone: 718.951.5000 x3247
Fax: 718.951.4675
Email: dshottenkirk@brooklyn.cuny.edu
My research focuses on the ways epistemology dovetails with aesthetics, with an emphasis on perception. My published books that illustrate this interest include Nelson Goodman: Nominalism and Its Aftermath (Springer 2009), Cover Up the Dirty Parts! (Cambridge Scholars Press, 2010) and the monograph Art as Cognition (Springer, 2024). The edited volume Perception, Cognition, and Aesthetics(Routledge, 2019) also illustrates this. In these, as well as in published articles, I have developed a body of research at the intersection of perception, epistemology, and aesthetics.
The governing issue is that art is something that can only be understood within the framework of epistemology. The world at large – including the art that is found in it – comes at us with a plethora of data: Massive bits of information, some of which is attentional and noticed consciously, some nonconsciously (a surprisingly large category), and much not noticed at all. This fact is then obvious: We edit, we select. And thus construct meaning. This is true in artworks as well. The attention to the meaning inherent in an artwork, and its ability to be constitutive of social facts, is a part of my research that I continually revisit. I am concerned with how it is that art becomes an epistemic experience, and what precisely constitutes that experience.
EDUCATION
B.A.
University of Kansas, major in Philosophy, minors in painting and political science.
Dean's Honor Roll and Rhodes Scholarship nominee.
M.F.A.
Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of Arts: painting
Ph.D.
Graduate Center of the City University of New York, in philosophy.
(awarded October 1, 2005)
FULL-TIME ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Brooklyn College Associate Professor Philosophy 09/15-Present
Boğaziçi University Visiting Professor Philosophy Summer 2016
Brooklyn College Lecturer (tenured) Philosophy 1/10-08/2015
Brooklyn College Summer Chair Philosophy Summer 2013
Brooklyn College Deputy Chair Philosophy Spring 2010
Institute Doctoral Studies Associate Professor & Director of First Year Art (Graduate) 08/08-12/08
Glasgow School of Art Chair (tenured) Art (Graduate) 08/06-12/07
Brooklyn College Substitute Line Philosophy 09/03-6/05
PART-TIME ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
University of the Arts, Philadelphia Adjunct Associate Art (Graduate) 01/08-06/10
Brooklyn College Adjunct Philosophy 08/09-12/09
Brooklyn College Adjunct Philosophy 08/05-12/05
Brooklyn College GTF Philosophy 08/01-06/03
Hunter College Adjunct Philosophy 01/00-06/02
John Jay College Adjunct Philosophy 01/01-06/02
Stevens Institute Adjunct Philosophy 09/00-12/01
St. Francis College Adjunct Art History 09/95-12/98
New York University Adjunct Art (Criticism) 09/90-12/90
New York University Visiting Artist Art Fall 1988
New York University Visiting Artist Art Fall 1987
Philadelphia College Art Visiting Artist Art Spring 1986
Philadelphia College Art Adjunct Art 01/85-06/86
Rutgers University Assist. to Chair & P/T Faculty Art 09/82-06/84
NON-ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
Giotto Fund Senior Vice-President 02/05-09-06
(part of Structured Portfolio Management)*
*This was a hedge fund of $50M. specializing in art investments. I specialized in the contemporary market, advising the fund on purchases, and structuring options for those purchases.
C Magazine NYC Editor 1996-2002
Rotunda Gallery Independent Curator 2000
Art in America Staff Critic 1992-1994
Artforum Magazine Staff Critic 1989-1991
White Columns Independent Curator 1983
P.S.1Contemporary Art Center Independent Curator 1982
PUBLICATIONS
A. BOOKS
Art as Cognition: Framing the Aesthetic Experience as Conversation (The Netherlands: Springer Verlag, Synthese Library: Studies in Epistemology, Logic, Methodology, and Philosophy of Science. (forthcoming 2024).
B. ARTICLES IN JOURNALS
“Artists' Training as Paradigmatic Nonconceptual Perception” in Synthesis Journal for Philosophy (May 2024) (forthcoming).
“A Tale of Two Reds” in Erkenntnis: An International Journal of Scientific Philosophy (Springer 2021).
“Aesthetics from the Artist’s Viewpoint” in Contemporary Aesthetics. ARTICLES, 19 (2021).
“Global Grammar” in Polish Journal of Aesthetics Vol. 49 (February 2018) pp. 85-100,
“GTA5: Kitsch is a Funny Thing” posted on Hypatia (Facebook), and Wordpress Editors’ Choice November, 2013.
“Censorship, ‘Decency', and Dollars.” in Auslegung: A Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 23, No. 2, (Summer/Fall 2000), published by University of Kansas.
Shottenkirk, Dena, 'Fritsch's Fables: Katharina Fritsch's Artworks Draw on the Dark Side of Fairy Tales', World Art, No. 20, January 2000.
“Hubert Damisch’s Judgment of Paris” in Journal of the History of Sexuality, (Jan. 1998) published by Bard College.
“Body Language: Rona Pondick and Wittgenstein” in World Art Magazine, No. 12, Spring 1997.
“The Birth of Meta-theory” in M/E/A/N/I/N/G Magazine (Spring 1994), pp. 42-47.
“Motherhood” in M/E/A/N/IN/G Magazine vol. 12 (November 1992), pp. 34-36.
“An Exchange of Views Between Nancy Spero and Dena Shottenkirk” in Arts Magazine, vol. 61 (May 1987).
“Sarah Charlesworth” in C Magazine, Spring 1987.
“Magdalena Abakanowicz: Amputated Ambiguity” in C Magazine, No. 8 (Winter 1985).
“Fashion Fictions: Absence and the Fast Heartbeat in Robert Mapplethorpe’s Work” in ZG Magazine, (Winter 1983).
C. BOOK CHAPTERS
“Interview with James Cohan” in Perception, Cognition & Aesthetics (ed. Dena Shottenkirk, Manuel Curado, Steven Gouveia) Contributions by Tim Crane, Jesse Prinz, Bill Brewer, Susanna Schellenberg, among others. (New York: Routledge, 2019).
“Those Dumb Artists!: Amnesiacs, Artists, and Other Idiots” by Dena Shottenkirk and Anjan Chatterjee in Structural Analysis (New York: NovaPublishing, 2010).
D. BOOK REVIEWS & INTERVIEWS IN JOURNALS
Review of "Automata’s Inner Movie: Science and Philosophy of Mind", edited by by Manuel Curado, and Steven S. Gouveia. (Delaware: Vernon Press, 2019)
Columbia University’s undergraduate magazine “Gadfly” interview with George Menz, March 15, 2019, on the public philosophy project, talkPOPc.
APA interview “Teaching Outside the Classroom: Dena Shottenkirk on Think Olio”, March 21, 2018.
E. ART CRITICISM REVIEWS
As the New York City Editor for C Magazine:
New York in Brief: No. 63 (Fall 1999)
New York in Brief: No. 62 (Summer 1999)
New York in Brief: No. 61 (Spring 1999)
New York in Brief: No. 59-60 (Winter 1999)
New York in Brief: No. 58 (Fall 1998)
New York in Brief: No. 57 (Summer 1998)
New York in Brief: No. 56 (Spring 1998)
New York in Brief: No. 55 (Winter 1997-8)
New York in Brief: No. 54 (Fall 1997)
New York in Brief: No. 53 (Summer 1997)
New York in Brief: No. 52 (Spring 1997)
New York in Brief: No. 51 (Winter 1996-7)
New York in Brief: No. 50 (Fall 1996)
New York in Brief: No. 49 (Summer 1996)
New York in Brief: No. 48 (Spring 1996)
New York in Brief: No. 47 (Winter 1995-6)
New York in Brief: No. 46 (Fall 1995)
New York in Brief: No. 45 (Spring 1995)
Review: “Laurel Katz” Postmasters Gallery, NYC. Art in America. Vol. 82. (March 1994) p. 103.
Review: “Stalin’s Choice” P.S.1, Long Island City, NY. Art & Antiques. Vol. 15. (February 1994), p. 89.
Review: “Face of the Gods” Museum of African Art, NYC. Art & Antiques. Vol. 15. (January 1994), p. 89.
Review: “Return of the Cadavre Exquis” Drawing Center, NYC. Art & Antiques. Vol. 15. (November 1993), p. 93.
Review: “Rebecca Horn” Guggenheim Museum, NYC. Art & Antiques. Vol. 15. (October 1993), p. 101.
Review: “Isa Genzken” Marian Goodman Gallery, NYC. Art in America. Vol. 81. (April 1993), p. 125.
Review: “Andreas Schon” Jay Gorney Gallery, NYC. Art in American. Vol. 81. (March 1993), p. 111.
Review: “Maria Nordman” Marian Goodman Gallery, NYC. Art in America. Vol. 81. (March 1993), pp. 107-8.
Review: “Andres Serrano” Paula Cooper Gallery, NYC. C Magazine. Vol 38. (Summer 1993), p. 48-49
Review: “Bill Komoski” Postmasters, NYC. C Magazine. Vol. 38. (Summer 1993), p. 60.
Review: “Peter Kennard” Kent Fine Art, NYC. Art in American. Vol. 80. (December 1992), p. 118.
Review: “Felix Gonzalez-Torres” MoMA Project Room, NYC. Art in America. Vol. 80 (November 1992), p. 132.
Review: “Pruitt & Early” Leo Castelli, NYC. C Magazine. Vol. 33 (Spring 1992), pp. 51-52.
Review: “Making Domestic Violence Public” MS. Magazine. Vol. II, No. 6. (May/June 1992), p. 77.
Review: “Ann Delaport” Simon Watson Gallery, NYC. Art in America. Vol. 30. (November 1991), p. 139-140.
Review: “Rene-Pierre Allain” Julian Pretto Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 30. (October 1991), p. 129-130.
Review: “Bill Komoski” Ealan Wingate Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 30 (September 1991), p. 128.
Review: “Ted Serios” Marta Cervera Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 29. (March 1991), p. 130-131.
Review: “Lewis Baltz” Castelli Graphics, NYC, and P.S.1, Long Island City, NY. Artforum. Vol 29. (May 1991), p. 142-143.
Review: “Victor Burgin” John Weber Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 29. (February 1991), p. 119-120.
Review: “Tracy Grayson” Christine Burgin Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 29. (January 1991), p. 122.
Review: “Barbara Steinman” MoMA Project Room, NYC, Artforum. Vol. 29. (November 1990), p. 170.
Review: “Robert Morris” Leo Castelli Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 29. (October 1990), p. 163.
Review: “Cary Smith” Koury Wingate Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 29. (August 1990), p. 55-56.
Review: “Ted Stamm” Lorence-Monk Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 29. (September 1990), p. 155.
Review: “Claudia Hart” Pat Hearn Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 28. (Summer 1990), p. 65.
Review: “Allan McCollum” John Weber, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 28. (Summer 1990), p. 164-65.
Review: “Mary Kelly” The New Museum, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 28. (May 1990), p. 186-187.
Review: “Dara Birnbaum” Josh Baer Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 28. (April 1990), p. 168-169.
Review: “Dan Graham & Jeff Wall” Marian Goodman Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 28. (March 1990), p. 153-154.
Review: “Daniel Levine” Julian Pretto Gallery, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 28. (February 1990), p. 139.
Review: “Matt Mulligan” MoMA Project Room, NYC. Artforum. Vol. 28. (January 1990), p. 141-142.
F. CONFERENCES & PRESENTED PAPERS
“Art, Interdisciplinarity, and Gist” at Trends in Interdisciplinary Studies, October 24-26, 2019, Portugal Faculty of Arts and Humanities of University of Porto, Portugal.*
*Accepted but unable to attend
“Art is Believing Not Judging” at Aesthetics and the Embodied Mind. 29th – 30th August, 2019 – University of Göttingen, Germany.
“The Problem with Nelson Goodman” at The Society for the History of Analytic Philosophy Conference, June 19-20, 2018, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
APA Annual Meeting, January 2018, Chairing “Perception”
“The Role of Others’ Beliefs in Nonconceptual Content” at CFP: 2nd International Conference on Philosophy of Mind: Thought and Perception, Sept. 21-22, 2016, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
“Looking at Art as an Instance of Knowledge-How” at Pragmatism and the Brain Conference, June 2-4, 2016, University of North Carolina, Asheville.
“Intentions: Art as a Social Fact” at CHiPS (University of the West Indies): Conversations XI: Identity and Identities Conference.*
*Paper accepted but not delivered as conference was cancelled. Fall 2015
“Urban Culture and the Epistemology of Consensus” at Philosophy of the City Conference, Brooklyn College, NY Winter 2013.
“Citizen As Audience” at CONTEMP ART Istanbul, Spring 2013 (undelivered)
“Pleasure in Art: The Epistemological Function in Visual Art” at Conversations XI: Grounding Aesthetics, Fall 2013: Response to Arnold Cusmariu “Baudelaire’s Critique of Sculpture” at American Society for Aesthetics, Eastern Conference, Spring 2011.
Response to Gabriel Greenberg (UCLA) “Pictorial Semantics” at American Society for Aesthetics, Eastern Conference, Spring 2010.
EXHIBITIONS & PERFORMANCES
Solo:
2024: talkPOPc exhibition @Brooklyn College Library Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, January.
2023: talkPOPc exhibition @Tomato Mouse Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, September.
2022: talkPOPc exhibition @Jilska14 Gallery, in philosophical collaboration with Prof. Martin Nitsche (Prague), October.
2022: talkPOPc exhibition @Forum Gestaltung, in philosophical collaboration with Prof. Sascha Fink (Magdeburg, Germany), October.
2020: talkPOPc exhibition with Visiting Philosophers and performance artists at Postmasters Gallery (NYC), Jan. 29.
2019: talkPOPc event at Postmasters Gallery (NYC) November.
2019: talkPOPc exhibition at Marginal Utility (Philadelphia), April.
2017: talkPOPc performance at exhibition curated by Veronica Cianfrano, “More Stately Mansions” at The Kitchen Table, Philadelphia, August, 2017 http://www.kitchentablegallery.com/future-artists/#/more-stately-mansions/
2012: “A Night With Nelson Goodman: POPc”: University of the Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
2011: “Philosophy of Plumbing” Whitney Museum, June 2011.
2011: “A Night With Nelson Goodman: POPc”: 260 Butler Street, Brooklyn, NY.
2008: Michael Steinberg Gallery (26th St.) NYC. July 24 – Sept. 8, 2008.
2001: A.R.T. Resources Transfer (11th Ave/25th St.) NYC.
1999: A.R.T. Resources Transfer (11th Ave./25th St.) NYC.
1990: Zilka Gallery, Weslyan University, Middletown, Connecticut.
1989: Postmasters Gallery, NYC.
1985: Michael Bennett Gallery, NYC.
REVIEWS OF ARTWORK:
Artnet. August 2008, review of “The Schemata Game” by Walter Robinson.
New York Times. December 1991, review of “Values” show by Roberta Smith.
Village Voice. December 1991, voice pick for “Values” show.
New York Times. April 1989, review of “Burton, Shottenkirk, Weinstein”, by Roberta Smith.
Sepa Journal. Winter 1988, review of “Fatal Strategies” by Robert C. Morgan.
Arts Magazine. April 1988, review of “Fatal Strategies”.
Arts Magazine. December 1986, review of solo exhibition at Michael Bennett Gallery by Janis Krasnow.
Flash Art. January 1985, review of “Between Here and Nowhere” by Meg Johnston.
Artscribe Magazine. November 1984, review of “Between Here and Nowhere” by Mel Gooding.
Art Magazine. March 1984, review of “Symbol and Cliché” by Theresa Lichtenstein.
Arts Magazine. March 1983, review of “Fashion Fictions” by Theresa Lichtenstein.
Group Exhibitions:
2021: ShowUpNY exhibition curated by Regine Basha and Birgit Rathsmann, a one day outdoor group exhibition event of social practice art in parks around Brooklyn.
2017: The Kitchen Table, Philadelphia: “More Stately Mansions”.
2000: Studio Stefania Miscetti Gallery, Rome, Italy: “Divas”.
1999: Postmasters Gallery, NYC: “War- Artists’ Bulletin”.
1998: Fred Dorfman Gallery, NYC: “Tip of the Iceberg”.
A.R.T. Gallery and Pat Hearn Gallery, NYC: “A.R.T. Resources Transfer Benefit”.
1991: 252 Lafayette Street Gallery, NYC: “Values”.
Franklin Furnace, NYC: Artists’ Books Invitational Exhibition (donated to MoMA library).
Cold City Gallery Annual Invitational, Toronto, Canada.
1988: Stux Gallery, NYC: “Fatal Strategies” (curated by Leslie Tonkonow and
Klaus Ottman).
Queensboro Community College, Queens, NY: “Gender Politics”.
1985: BACA Downtown, Brooklyn, NY: “Five Painters”.
1984: A & M Gallery, NYC: “Symbol and Cliché”.
East Third Street Gallery, NYC: “Forgeries”.
Nature Morte Gallery, NYC: “Wedge Magazine Exhibition”.
Riverside Studios, London, England: “Between Here and Nowhere”
(curated by Rosetta Brooks).
1983: White Columns Gallery, NYC: “Fashion Fictions”.
Rutgers University Faculty Exhibition, New Brunswick, NJ.
Group Material subway exhibition, NYC: “Sub-Culture”.
P.S.1, Long Island City, NY: “Six Women/Image Impact” (curated by
Nancy Spero).
1982: P.S.1, Long Island City, NY. National Studio Artist (January).
P.S.1, Long Island City, NY. National Studio Artist (April).
1981: Grey Art Gallery, NYC: Heresies Art Benefit.
Inroads Gallery, NYC: “Located Images”.
1980: 15th Annual Avant Garde Festival of New York at the Passenger Ship
Terminal (curated by Charlotte Morman).
Franklin Furnace, NY: performances (April 13)
HONORS & AWARDS
Fulbright Specialist Scholar (University of Vienna) 2022
CUNY PSC Grant (Brooklyn College) for talkPOPc nonprofit. 2019, 2021
Tow Travel Grant (Brooklyn College). 2018
Rhodes Scholarship Finalist at the University of Kansas. 1977
University Fellowship from CUNY Graduate Center,
Graduate Teaching Fellowship (GTF) from the CUNY Graduate Center. 1991, 1992.