A Life in Art History: My Journey with Ben Nicholson and Beyond
A Life in Art History
In early March, I had the great pleasure of sharing aspects of my profession as an Art Historian with a large group of students and staff.
I focused on the life and work of Ben Nicholson (1894–1982), an artist who has shaped my career for more than twenty‑five years
This focus has led to my involvement in the co-curating of exhibitions and contributions to numerous published catalogues and books.
My fascination with Nicholson began in 2000, when I started my PhD at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.
I explored how his work of the 1930s connected to modernist architecture, design, and notions of domesticity.
Following the completion of my PhD I was awarded a three‑year British Academy Post‑Doctoral Research Fellowship, during which I organised a major two‑day conference dedicated to Nicholson.
It brought together leading scholars, curators, and emerging researchers, an experience that confirmed how rich and collaborative art‑historical study can be.
In 2008, I was invited to begin work on what has become one of the defining projects of my career: the Ben Nicholson catalogue raisonné. This ambitious undertaking aims to locate, research, and document every painting and carved relief Nicholson produced across his sixty‑year career.
It has taken me deep into archives, private collections, galleries, and auction houses, and has allowed me to examine countless works first‑hand. The result is a broad and detailed understanding of Nicholson’s artistic development, something that continues to inspire me.
This work has also led to unexpected opportunities, including appearing as an authority on Nicholson for the BBC’s long‑running series Fake or Fortune? with Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould.
In 2019, my love of primary research culminated in a book dedicated to Nicholson’s personal letters and published writings, produced with Lund Humphries. I believe this publication offers a rare insight into his ideas, influences, and creative approaches told in his own words.
Alongside my Nicholson‑focused research, I’ve been fortunate to work across many areas of art history: lecturing at the Courtauld, writing and presenting online films for London Art Studies, and contributing as an editor and author to several publishers. Highlights include the expanded edition of The Art Book (Phaidon, 2012) and 30‑Second Great Art (Ivy Press, 2018).
Sharing these experiences with students at College is always a great pleasure for me.
I hope that by opening a window into the processes behind exhibitions, publications, and research, I can help demystify the art world.
It is a field full of curiosity, collaboration, and creativity, and it offers far more career paths than many people realise.
If my talk encouraged even a few students to look more closely at art, to ask new questions, or to imagine themselves working in this world one day, then I consider that a wonderful success
Dr Lee Beard
Head of History of Art
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