Ferren Gipson

Ferren Gipson is an art historian and artist researching modern art and exploring themes of politics, popular culture, and identity. 

Her academic research includes explorations of Chinese socialist imagery, with a particular interest in depictions of Mao Zedong. She also has a penchant for exploring and amplifying the contributions of women artists across styles and regions. 

Ferren received her BA from Metropolitan State University of Denver in Art History, Theory, and Criticism with a minor in Chinese Studies and earned her MA from SOAS in History of Art. She is currently finalising her PhD research at SOAS, aiming to complete in 2024. Ferren has so far authored three books, including Women’s Work (Frances Lincoln), The Ultimate Art Museum (Phaidon), and The Art Book for Children (Phaidon), and has also written articles for the Financial Times, WePresent, and Art Quarterly. 

As the voice and creative force behind the popular Art Matters podcast, she has also shared accessible insights into art history in the audio format, engaging with broad audiences. Ferren’s teaching experience includes positions at The Courtauld Institute of Art and SOAS University of London, as well as guest lectures the Royal Academy of Art and Sotheby's Institute of Art. At The Courtauld, she planned and taught a course titled 'Modern Women, Modern Artists,' exploring art by women, feminism, and gender in modern art. 

Within her art practice, Ferren investigates themes of spirituality, materiality, and colour as a method of exploring identity and matrilineal connections. She has exhibited with esteemed galleries such as Hauser & Wirth and Unit London.

The Art Book for Children (Phaidon), Co-author, 2024

Tschabalala Self: Make Room (les presses du reel), Writer of ‘A Sense of Self’ chapter, 2023

Vitamin C: Clay and Ceramic in Contemporary Art (Phaidon), Contributing writer, 2023

Women’s Work: From Feminine arts to Feminist Art! (Frances Lincoln), Author, 2022, 2021 

The Ultimate Art Museum (Phaidon), Author, 2021

Great Women Artists (Phaidon), Contributing writer, 2019

Ferren's research interests are broad, although largely falling within the modern era. Her academic research investigates imagery from the Mao era, situating these works within traditional Chinese and modern Marxist-Maoist contexts. 

She has a particular interest in the imagery of Mao Zedong, with her doctoral research focusing on depictions of Mao from before the Cultural Revolution period. Other aspects of Ferren's research extend to visual culture, exploring how fine art interacts with aspects of everyday life and popular culture. She has explored this area through her podcast 'Art Matters', in which she speaks with experts on a diversity of topics ranging from railway posters to Disney films to depictions of witches in art, and more. 

Ferren also has an interest in researching and amplifying the contributions of women artists. She carries out this work through the mindful representation of women makers in all of her work, and she wrote the book 'Women's Work,' exploring textile and ceramic art by women as it relates to issues of identity, politics, and gender. As a practicing artist working in textiles, she often researches this area as well, focusing on Black American quilting traditions.

Ferren Gipson