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Art Historian

Curator

Writer

Presenter

Designer

Joe Nickols is an award winning Art Historian, Curator, Writer, Presenter, and Designer.

Joe is a Curator in the Japan section of the British Museum, co-ordinating a headline exhibition on Samurai launching in 2026. Joe is a research based curator and is concurrently developing a PhD project at SOAS, University of London. Joe was awarded the Sasakawa Scholarship 2023/24 for research into the Japanese Art Movement Mavo.

Joe has curated exhibitions in the UK and Japan, as well as lecturing lectured at Stanford University and Hong Kong Baptist University on Arts, Culture, and Curation. Joe has worked closely with artists to develop engaging and dynamic exhibitions that have been popular with the public.

Joe has written articles that have been published in academic journals and other cultural media outlets. Joe is a dynamic public speaker and is passionate about making arts engaging. Consequently, Joe has produced and presented podcasts, video interviews, and zines. In 2023 Joe launched a lifestyle platform called NCLUSIV WORLD that focussed on queer/trans arts and culture.

For more details explore the CV page here.

Curatorial projects for commercial and public galleries and museums.

Upcoming projects include work in Japan and for the British Museum.

Joe has collaborated with many artists and creatives to develop engaging exhibitions, particularly with Northern British artists.

Exhibition Poster for TOTAL RECALL Myth and Memory Curated by Joe Nickols at Mercer Art Gallery
Exhibition Poster for OVERLAY OVERLAY curated by Joe Nickols at Owl Store
Exhibition Poster for ROUTES NORTH: Emerging Northern Talent curated by Joe Nickols at Messums

Articles and research for academic journals, auction houses and media outlets. 

Many of these articles explore East Asian culture, Gender Identity, and Theoretical discourse.

New Auction Catalogue
The Disrupt Project: Nikki S. Lee and Transcategorical Identities written by Joe Nickols for SOAS PGR Journal
Queer Baroque: Nikko Mausoleum article by Joe Nickols
What's in a Banknote article by Joe Nickols Shin Saimdang
Mavo-ricks Transgender Transgressions in 1920s Japan by Mavo Masters Thesis by Joe Nickols
Regulating Bodies: gender identity in Meiji era Japan article by Joe Nickols

Joe has presented podcasts, video interviews, and short form programmes, including work for BBC Bitesize. Additionally, Joe has produced and hosted a digital art conference titled Conversations in Art: Race, Sexuality, and Health.

Presenting BBC Bitesize interview with Joe Nickols Language and Cultures careers
NCLUSIV WORLD Podcast and apparel designed and presented by Joe Nickols
Video presentation of Contemporary Korean Ceramics by Joe Nickols
Conversations in Art: Race, Sexuality, and Health conference hosted and coordinated by Joe Nickols

Joe has worked for internationally recognised brands on graphic design, most significantly for Matty Bovan. For NCLUSIV WORLD, Joe design apparel to champion Queer identities. Joe has used these skills to create aesthetic exhibition posters, visually engaging articles, and promote presenting work.

NCLUSIV WORLD Podcast and apparel designed and presented by Joe Nickols
Graphic and textile design for Matty Bovan by Joe Nickols
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