Avant-Garde and Migration
The 10th International Conference of the European Network for Avant-Garde and Modernism Studies (EAM), Stockholm 2–4 Sept 2026.
The interior of station Stadion, on the way to the university, in Stockholm metro. Photo: Anton Kudelin / Mostphotos
The 2026 conference theme ‘Avant-Garde and Migration’ highlights migration as a key concept of historical as well as current relevance. Migration, firstly, may be understood as a socio-cultural and geopolitical concept relating to avant-garde and neo-avant-garde migrant actors and movements during the 20th century as well as the contemporary cultural and political landscape in Europe and the world. What mechanisms of demographic migration influence/d agents of the avant-garde and their collectives? What roles have migrating, exiled or refugee artists and intellectuals and their production played in the (cultural) politics of diverse national and ethnical communities? In what ways do the dynamics of past and contemporary avant-garde techniques connect with aspects of today’s global societal and cultural migration?
Secondly, the concept of migration may function metaphorically in addressing ideational types of movements and border crossings. The latter include changes in meaning of the ‘travelling’ concept ‘avant-garde’ and other aesthetic-philosophical notions as they move across cultures and through history; the transgression of boundaries between genres, media and modes of expression made possible by the critical practices of the avant-garde; the creative transformations with socio-political implications that arise in the interplay between movements, actors and networks.
By addressing this theme, we seek to respond to the contemporary global geo- and cultural-political situation in which urgent questions are raised about the role of both the humanities and the arts in times of rising antidemocratic tendencies. Issues of migration, diaspora, exile and cross-border intercultural encounters have been high on the agenda of humanities research. However, these themes are often addressed within the framework of traditional disciplinary frameworks. The interdisciplinary nature of the biennial EAM conferences may provide a start in bringing forth innovative research combining various humanities disciplines. Besides highlighting important historical and theoretical aspects, we therefore also welcome delegates addressing how research on the avant-garde can shed light on the global challenges and complex problems that characterise our time.
Keynote speakers
Burcu Dogramaci, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Burcu Dogramaci is Professor of Art History and director of the Käte Hamburger Research Centre global dis:connect at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Her research areas are modern and contemporary art with a focus on exile, migration and flight, photography, architecture, textile, fashion, live art. She was PI of the ERC Consolidator Project, “Relocating Modernism: Global Metropolises, Modern Art and Exile (METROMOD)” (2017–2023, metromod.net), which focused on six metropolises, including Bombay, Buenos Aires, Istanbul and Shanghai, as workplaces for émigré artists from Europe in the first half of the 20th century. One of the project’s outcomes is her open access publication London Exile. Metropolis, Modernity, and Artistic Migration (Leuven University Press, 2025). Recent publications include: Nomadic Camera. Photography, Displacement and Dis:connectivities (Leuven University Press, 2026, ed. with Winfried Gerling, Jens Jäger and Birgit Mersmann); Grenze|Granica. Art on the German-Polish Border after 1990 (Böhlau, 2024, with Marta Smolińska); Urban Exile. Theories, Methods, Research Practices (Intellect, 2023, ed. with Ekaterina Aygün et al.). She is co-editor of Yearbook of Exile Studies and Journal of Art History.
Chika Okeke-Agulu, Princeton University
Chika Okeke-Agulu, an artist, critic, and art historian, is the Robert Schirmer Professor of Art & Archaeology and African American Studies, and Director of Africa World Initiative, Princeton University. He is co-editor of Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art. His recent books include El Anatsui: The Reinvention of Sculpture (2022), Yusuf Grillo: Painting. Lagos. Life (2020), and Obiora Udechukwu: Line, Image, Text (2016). His articles have appeared in African Arts, Meridians: Feminism, Race, Internationalism, Artforum, Parkett, South Atlantic Quarterly, and October.
Okeke-Agulu, is a member of the Board of Trustees of Global Studies University, Sharjah, UAE, and is on the advisory board of the Museum of West African Art, Benin City, Nigeria. In 2024, he served on the International Jury, 60th Venice Biennale, and in 2023 chaired the International Jury for Decolonial Memorial Commission, Berlin, Germany (2023).
His many awards and prizes include The Arnold Rubin Outstanding Publication (triennial) Award (Arts Council of African Studies Association, 2024); Frank Jewett Mather Award for Distinction in Art Criticism (CAA, 2016), and The Melville J. Herskovits Prize for the most important scholarly work in African studies published in English during the preceding year (African Studies Association, 2016). He was Slade Professor of Fine Art, University of Oxford (2022-23), and is a fellow of The British Academy.
Call for papers
The Call for papers is now closed. Acceptance of proposals will be communicated via email in early to mid-March 2026. Conference registration fees will only be payable after this point.
Registration fees
Here is some first general information on the conference fees. These include coffee and lunches from 2–4 Sept, amongst others.
The registration system will open up on 22 April.
Early bird registration by 1 June
2 500 SEK (approx. 230 EUR) for early bird registration
Early bird registration for PhD and master students
1 875 SEK (approx.170 EUR)
Final registration by 8 August
3 750 SEK (approx. 350 EUR)
Final registration for PhD and master students
2 750 SEK (approx. 250 EUR)
Programme
A preliminary programme will be published before the summer.
Additional activities
The City of Stockholm invites registered conference participants to a complimentary formal reception with a dinner buffet at the City Hall, renowned for the annual Nobel Prize banquet, on Thursday, 3 September, 7–9 pm.
Stockholm City Hall. Photo: Yanan Li.
Practical info
Conference venue
The main venue of the conference is the Aula Magna at Campus Frescati, Stockholm University.
Aula Magna. Photo: Agneta Hollström
Organisers
Professor of Art History Andrea Kollnitz
Professor of Art History Jessica Sjöholm Skrubbe
The organisers gratefully acknowledge the support of the following sponsors, partners, and funding institutions:
- The City of Stockholm
- Åke Wiberg Foundation
- The Lars Hierta Memorial Foundation
Contact
Last updated: 2026-04-15
Source: Department of Culture and Aesthetics