Alexander Sturgis
Alexander Sturgis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 November 1963 |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Xa Sturgis The Great Xa |
| Alma mater | University College, Oxford Courtauld Institute of Art |
| Occupation(s) | Curator Museum director |
| Employer(s) | National Gallery Holburne Museum Ashmolean Museum |
| Title | Director of theAshmolean Museum |
| Predecessor | Christopher Brown |
Alexander John SturgisCBE(born 6 November 1963) is a Britishart historianandmuseum curator.He is the currentDirectorof theAshmolean MuseuminOxford.He wasDirectorof theHolburne MuseuminBathfrom 2005 to September 2014.
Early life
[edit]Sturgis was born on 6 November 1963 inLondon,England.[1]He was educated atMarlborough College,aprivate schoolinMarlborough,Wiltshire.[1]He studied history atUniversity College,University of Oxfordfrom 1982 to 1985. He graduated with aBachelor of Arts(BA) degree, which was later promoted to aMaster of Arts (Oxford, Cambridge, and Dublin)(MA Oxon) degree.[2]He then undertookpost-graduatestudy inart historyat theCourtauld Institute of Artin London.[3]He completed hisDoctor of Philosophy(PhD) degree in 1990.[2]
Career
[edit]Sturgis worked at theNational Gallery,anart museumin London, from 1991 to 2005.[3]Beginning his career in the education department,[2]he later served as exhibitions and programmes curator for six years, from 1999 to 2005.[4][5]In 2005, he was appointedDirectorof theHolburne MuseuminBath.[6]During his time at Holburne, he oversaw a renovation of the museum that included a £13 million extension.[7]
He moved to theCity of Oxfordfor the beginning of the 2014/2015 academic year to take up the appointment ofDirectorof theUniversity of Oxford'sAshmolean Museumon 1 October 2014.[4][8]He is also aSupernumerary FellowofWorcester College, Oxford.[9]
His publications includeRebels and Martyrs: The Image of the Artist in the Nineteenth Century(2006) andPresence: Sculpture and the Portrait(2012).
Personal life
[edit]In his spare time, Sturgis is amagicianunder the nameThe Great Xaand once appeared on 1990s British TV programmeThe Wordappearing to swallow sharp razor blades.[10][11][12][13]
Selected works
[edit]- Sturgis, Alexander (1994).Magic in art: tricks, perspective, illusions.London: Belitha Press.ISBN978-1855613577.
- Sturgis, Alexander (1998).Faces.London: National Gallery Publications.ISBN978-1857092226.
- Sturgis, Alexander (2000).Telling time.London: National Gallery Company.ISBN978-1857099058.
- Sturgis, Alexander; Child, Lauren (2003).Dan's angel: a detective's guide to the language of painting.London: Frances Lincoln.ISBN978-0711218857.
- Sturgis, Alexander;Christiansen, Rupert;Oliver, Lois; Wilson, Michael (2006).Rebels and martyrs: the image of the artist in the nineteenth century.London: National Gallery Company.ISBN978-1857093469.
- Sturgis, Alexander (2009).Faces(2nd ed.). London: National Gallery Company.ISBN978-1857094640.
- Sturgis, Alexander (2012).Presence: the art of portrait sculpture.Suffolk: Antique Collectors Club.ISBN978-1851496853.
- Vestey, Joanna; Sturgis, Alexander; Roberts, Russell (2015).Custodians.Oxford: Ashmolean Museum Publications.ISBN978-1854442970.
References
[edit]- ^ab'STURGIS, Dr Alexander John',Who's Who 2017,A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online end,Oxford University Press,2016; online edn, Nov 2016accessed 16 May 2017
- ^abc"New Director of Ashmolean Museum appointed".University of Oxford.23 January 2014.Retrieved18 July2020.
- ^ab"Director of Holburne Museum to talk about its recent redevelopment".University news.University of Bath.17 May 2011.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^ab"New director set to take over at Ashmolean Museum".Oxford Mail.24 January 2014.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^"New Director of Ashmolean Museum appointed".News and events.Ashmolean Museum.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^"Bath's Holburne Museum director is leaving for new role at the Ashmolean in Oxford".The Bath Chronicle.23 January 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 10 March 2014.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^"New role for Holburne Museum director at the Ashmolean".Western Daily Press.24 January 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 10 March 2014.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^"Courtauld alumnus appointed as Director of Ashmolean Museum".News.The Courtauld Institute.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^"Dr Alexander Sturgis MA, PhD".Worcester College, Oxford.Retrieved25 August2015.
- ^Moore, Charles (25 January 2014)."The Spectator's Notes: George Osborne's personal recovery".The Spectator.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^"The Great Xa's Holburne illusion".BD online. 20 May 2011.Retrieved10 March2014.
- ^"The life of a modern magician: Razor blades, ballet shoes and bumping into the Obamas".Country Life.20 December 2017.Retrieved23 August2022.
- ^The Great Xar - Swallowing Razor Blades THEWORD(Video).Retrieved23 August2022.
- Living people
- 1963 births
- People educated at Marlborough College
- Alumni of University College, Oxford
- Alumni of the Courtauld Institute of Art
- British art historians
- British magicians
- British art curators
- English curators
- Fellows of Worcester College, Oxford
- People associated with the National Gallery, London
- Keepers and directors of the Ashmolean Museum
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire