Alex Zivkovic
@alexzivkovic.bsky.social
art, architecture, and media historian
postdoc @ Lauder Center, Met
incoming Asst Prof @ Hunter College, CUNY
thinking about modernism, ecology, queer surrealism
http://aleksazivkovic.com
postdoc @ Lauder Center, Met
incoming Asst Prof @ Hunter College, CUNY
thinking about modernism, ecology, queer surrealism
http://aleksazivkovic.com
happy (vegetarian) thanksgiving! enjoy these definitely-not-farmed turkeys…
Claude Monet, Les Dindons, 1877
Claude Monet, Les Dindons, 1877
November 27, 2025 at 2:07 PM
happy (vegetarian) thanksgiving! enjoy these definitely-not-farmed turkeys…
Claude Monet, Les Dindons, 1877
Claude Monet, Les Dindons, 1877
I’m honored to be part of the first special issue of @jcmsjournal.bsky.social, “Is it Media?”
the first half of the issue is out now, my article will appear OA next month. In the meantime, read the OA introduction to the issue now! quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
the first half of the issue is out now, my article will appear OA next month. In the meantime, read the OA introduction to the issue now! quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
November 18, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I’m honored to be part of the first special issue of @jcmsjournal.bsky.social, “Is it Media?”
the first half of the issue is out now, my article will appear OA next month. In the meantime, read the OA introduction to the issue now! quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
the first half of the issue is out now, my article will appear OA next month. In the meantime, read the OA introduction to the issue now! quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/i...
another member of the semi-patchy beard game club!
Frédéric Bazille, photographed by Etienne Carjat, 1865 & self portrait, 1865-6
Frédéric Bazille, photographed by Etienne Carjat, 1865 & self portrait, 1865-6
November 18, 2025 at 2:50 PM
another member of the semi-patchy beard game club!
Frédéric Bazille, photographed by Etienne Carjat, 1865 & self portrait, 1865-6
Frédéric Bazille, photographed by Etienne Carjat, 1865 & self portrait, 1865-6
I see this sketch continuing on her robotics kick (following the incredible installation at SFMOMA), evoking the Boston Dynamic “dog”
November 13, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I see this sketch continuing on her robotics kick (following the incredible installation at SFMOMA), evoking the Boston Dynamic “dog”
the centrality of the horse, the care and management of the living being (and dead), the sculpture’s resulting hybridity collapsing man and horse—just incredible
November 13, 2025 at 12:09 AM
the centrality of the horse, the care and management of the living being (and dead), the sculpture’s resulting hybridity collapsing man and horse—just incredible
wow! Kara Walker’s Unmanned Drone is incredible, as good as expected with collages and preparatory sketches that are equally fantastic
part of Monuments, if you’re in LA, go see it!!
part of Monuments, if you’re in LA, go see it!!
November 13, 2025 at 12:06 AM
wow! Kara Walker’s Unmanned Drone is incredible, as good as expected with collages and preparatory sketches that are equally fantastic
part of Monuments, if you’re in LA, go see it!!
part of Monuments, if you’re in LA, go see it!!
absolutely adored Bugonia…run! don’t walk!!!
(and felt inspired to draw it, such stunning performances)
(and felt inspired to draw it, such stunning performances)
November 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
absolutely adored Bugonia…run! don’t walk!!!
(and felt inspired to draw it, such stunning performances)
(and felt inspired to draw it, such stunning performances)
thoroughly enjoying Zoe Wallbrook’s History Lessons, a murder mystery novel set at a university, written by a professor of history
feeling very seen!
feeling very seen!
October 30, 2025 at 10:32 PM
thoroughly enjoying Zoe Wallbrook’s History Lessons, a murder mystery novel set at a university, written by a professor of history
feeling very seen!
feeling very seen!
the phrase “watery grave” evokes Leonor Fini’s found object of a fake Christopher Columbus logbook, exhibited as “Cover of a book that has spent time in the sea”
on this Indigenous People’s Day (formerly Columbus Day), read my essay on the true story of this object and its anti-imperial politics!
on this Indigenous People’s Day (formerly Columbus Day), read my essay on the true story of this object and its anti-imperial politics!
October 13, 2025 at 2:30 PM
the phrase “watery grave” evokes Leonor Fini’s found object of a fake Christopher Columbus logbook, exhibited as “Cover of a book that has spent time in the sea”
on this Indigenous People’s Day (formerly Columbus Day), read my essay on the true story of this object and its anti-imperial politics!
on this Indigenous People’s Day (formerly Columbus Day), read my essay on the true story of this object and its anti-imperial politics!
watched Blue Moon at Newfest yesterday, the LGBTQ film festival in the city—such a complex film about Lorenz Hart, just as funny and sad as its protagonist
October 10, 2025 at 2:07 PM
watched Blue Moon at Newfest yesterday, the LGBTQ film festival in the city—such a complex film about Lorenz Hart, just as funny and sad as its protagonist
loved sixties surreal—smart, gorgeous, important! many new to me artworks and artists
much to think about with regards to surrealism’s continued relevance (& see more down the line with the essays in my volume Queer Surrealism, tackling 1920s-present, WWI to the AIDS crisis)
much to think about with regards to surrealism’s continued relevance (& see more down the line with the essays in my volume Queer Surrealism, tackling 1920s-present, WWI to the AIDS crisis)
September 28, 2025 at 9:59 PM
loved sixties surreal—smart, gorgeous, important! many new to me artworks and artists
much to think about with regards to surrealism’s continued relevance (& see more down the line with the essays in my volume Queer Surrealism, tackling 1920s-present, WWI to the AIDS crisis)
much to think about with regards to surrealism’s continued relevance (& see more down the line with the essays in my volume Queer Surrealism, tackling 1920s-present, WWI to the AIDS crisis)
per your recommendation, we went yesterday just under the wire!
was so enamored by the different media but the consistent use of bright accents & loved his depictions of Paris & these two west African figurines
was so enamored by the different media but the consistent use of bright accents & loved his depictions of Paris & these two west African figurines
September 15, 2025 at 11:43 AM
per your recommendation, we went yesterday just under the wire!
was so enamored by the different media but the consistent use of bright accents & loved his depictions of Paris & these two west African figurines
was so enamored by the different media but the consistent use of bright accents & loved his depictions of Paris & these two west African figurines
never knew there was this Calder here!! surprising to see as I exited the New York Public Library haha
August 26, 2025 at 4:06 PM
never knew there was this Calder here!! surprising to see as I exited the New York Public Library haha
took the Boston to Ptown ferry on a “rough seas” day and it felt straight out of this Sargent painting
one of my faves from the Met show, such a weird perspective!
one of my faves from the Met show, such a weird perspective!
August 4, 2025 at 4:04 PM
took the Boston to Ptown ferry on a “rough seas” day and it felt straight out of this Sargent painting
one of my faves from the Met show, such a weird perspective!
one of my faves from the Met show, such a weird perspective!
incredible WWI image: “The double exposure was accidental but stirring: even in the happiest moments, the war crept in.”
www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
July 16, 2025 at 4:10 PM
incredible WWI image: “The double exposure was accidental but stirring: even in the happiest moments, the war crept in.”
www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
www.newyorker.com/news/letter-...
My friend Paulina Choh and I are running an elemental media studies panel at #CAA2026! we are asking how the insights of media studies can be applied to 19th-century visual culture.
Paper proposals due Aug 29!
caa.confex.com/caa/2026/web...
please repost and share!
Paper proposals due Aug 29!
caa.confex.com/caa/2026/web...
please repost and share!
July 15, 2025 at 3:02 PM
My friend Paulina Choh and I are running an elemental media studies panel at #CAA2026! we are asking how the insights of media studies can be applied to 19th-century visual culture.
Paper proposals due Aug 29!
caa.confex.com/caa/2026/web...
please repost and share!
Paper proposals due Aug 29!
caa.confex.com/caa/2026/web...
please repost and share!
grateful for this summer break before my postdoc, and using it to finally draw more!
(and okay watching tv too… Loki, Gilded Age…)
(and okay watching tv too… Loki, Gilded Age…)
July 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
grateful for this summer break before my postdoc, and using it to finally draw more!
(and okay watching tv too… Loki, Gilded Age…)
(and okay watching tv too… Loki, Gilded Age…)
have my work cut out for me for the remaining 25!
NYT best films of the 21st century so far
NYT best films of the 21st century so far
June 27, 2025 at 2:42 PM
have my work cut out for me for the remaining 25!
NYT best films of the 21st century so far
NYT best films of the 21st century so far
finally got my beautiful copy of Surrealism and Animation, edited by @abigailsusik.bsky.social
my essay looks at ideas of animacy as a motivating force in Salvador Dalí’s art: paintings, sculpture, installation, and of course film!
order & enjoy!!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/surrealis...
my essay looks at ideas of animacy as a motivating force in Salvador Dalí’s art: paintings, sculpture, installation, and of course film!
order & enjoy!!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/surrealis...
June 20, 2025 at 2:15 PM
finally got my beautiful copy of Surrealism and Animation, edited by @abigailsusik.bsky.social
my essay looks at ideas of animacy as a motivating force in Salvador Dalí’s art: paintings, sculpture, installation, and of course film!
order & enjoy!!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/surrealis...
my essay looks at ideas of animacy as a motivating force in Salvador Dalí’s art: paintings, sculpture, installation, and of course film!
order & enjoy!!
www.bloomsbury.com/us/surrealis...
loved the new exhibition of Jonathan Adler’s work at the Museum of Art and Design
not only seeing his commercial pieces, but his workshopped works as well as pieces from the museum’s collection from artists who inspire him
not only seeing his commercial pieces, but his workshopped works as well as pieces from the museum’s collection from artists who inspire him
June 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
loved the new exhibition of Jonathan Adler’s work at the Museum of Art and Design
not only seeing his commercial pieces, but his workshopped works as well as pieces from the museum’s collection from artists who inspire him
not only seeing his commercial pieces, but his workshopped works as well as pieces from the museum’s collection from artists who inspire him
I’m happy to announce that I’ll be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art next year as a Lauder Postdoc!!
working on turning my diss into a manuscript & scoping out my second project, in community with other fellows working on global modernism
www.metmuseum.org/press-releas...
working on turning my diss into a manuscript & scoping out my second project, in community with other fellows working on global modernism
www.metmuseum.org/press-releas...
June 4, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I’m happy to announce that I’ll be at the Metropolitan Museum of Art next year as a Lauder Postdoc!!
working on turning my diss into a manuscript & scoping out my second project, in community with other fellows working on global modernism
www.metmuseum.org/press-releas...
working on turning my diss into a manuscript & scoping out my second project, in community with other fellows working on global modernism
www.metmuseum.org/press-releas...
this pride I’m working on the introduction for Queer Surrealism, a volume I’m editing for Manchester UP!
organized around surrealist methods, each essay will tackle a technique and its queer/trans effects, 1924-present
🏳️⚧️ happy pride from me and the queer surrealists!! 🏳️🌈
organized around surrealist methods, each essay will tackle a technique and its queer/trans effects, 1924-present
🏳️⚧️ happy pride from me and the queer surrealists!! 🏳️🌈
June 2, 2025 at 3:39 PM
this pride I’m working on the introduction for Queer Surrealism, a volume I’m editing for Manchester UP!
organized around surrealist methods, each essay will tackle a technique and its queer/trans effects, 1924-present
🏳️⚧️ happy pride from me and the queer surrealists!! 🏳️🌈
organized around surrealist methods, each essay will tackle a technique and its queer/trans effects, 1924-present
🏳️⚧️ happy pride from me and the queer surrealists!! 🏳️🌈
modernist highlights from TEFAF and the Gagosian Picasso show
May 11, 2025 at 12:31 PM
modernist highlights from TEFAF and the Gagosian Picasso show
dissertation officially published to proquest!! (though embargoed til 2030, so enjoy the abstract until the eventual book!!)
www.proquest.com/docview/3200...
www.proquest.com/docview/3200...
May 7, 2025 at 4:52 PM
dissertation officially published to proquest!! (though embargoed til 2030, so enjoy the abstract until the eventual book!!)
www.proquest.com/docview/3200...
www.proquest.com/docview/3200...