Alexander Sturgis

Alexander Sturgis
Nationality British
Other names Xa Sturgis
The Great Xa
Alma mater University College, Oxford
Courtauld Institute of Art
Occupation Curator
Museum director
Years active 1991 - present
Employer National Gallery
Holburne Museum
Ashmolean Museum
Title Director of the Ashmolean Museum
Predecessor Christopher Brown

Alexander Sturgis is a British art historian. He is the current Director of the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. He was, from 2005 until September 2014, Director of the Holburne Museum in Bath.

Early life

Sturgis studied history at University College, University of Oxford from 1982 to 1985. He graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA), which was later promoted to Master of Arts (MA).[1] He then undertook post-graduate study in art history at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.[2] He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 1990.[1]

Career

Sturgis worked at the National Gallery, an art museum in London, from 1991 to 2005.[2] Beginning his career in the education department,[1] he later served as exhibitions and programmes curator for six years, from 1999 to 2005.[3][4] In 2005, he was appointed Director of the Holburne Museum in Bath.[5] During his time at Holburne, he oversaw a renovation of the museum that included a £13 million extension.[6] He moved to Oxford for the beginning of the 2014/15 academic year to take up the appointment of Director of the University of Oxford's Ashmolean Museum on 1 October 2014.[3][7]

His publications include Rebels and Martyrs: The Image of the Artist in the Nineteenth Century (2006) and Presence: Sculpture and the Portrait (2012).

Personal life

In his spare time, Sturgis is a magician under the name The Great Xa.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "New Director of Ashmolean Museum appointed". University of Oxford. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Director of Holburne Museum to talk about its recent redevelopment". University news. University of Bath. 17 May 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "New director set to take over at Ashmolean Museum". Oxford Mail. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "New Director of Ashmolean Museum appointed". News and events. Ashmolean Museum. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  5. ↑ "Bath's Holburne Museum director is leaving for new role at the Ashmolean in Oxford". The Bath Chronicle. 23 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "New role for Holburne Museum director at the Ashmolean". Western Daily Press. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Courtauld alumnus appointed as Director of Ashmolean Museum". News. The Courtauld Institute. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  8. ↑ Moore, Charles (25 January 2014). "The Spectator's Notes: George Osborne's personal recovery". The Spectator. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Great Xa’s Holburne illusion". BD online. 20 May 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2014.