Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton

August is an Art Historian specialising in modern and contemporary art (20th and 21st centuries) of North America and Britain. She obtained a BFA (Hons) in Art History from the University of North Texas before moving to the UK. Studying with Francis Frascina and Jonathan Harris at Keele University, August obtained an MA (Distinction) in Visual Arts in Contemporary Culture, which, like her BFA, was a theory and fine art practice course, combining art historical research with fine arts practice. Continuing to work with Jonathan Harris as her supervisor, August undertook doctoral research into the art and activism of American artist Martha Rosler. August's thesis addressed Rosler's anti-war photomontages, situating them within their socio-cultural, historical and aesthetic contexts; producing original research into the source images appropriated by Rosler in these works of 1967 – 1974 and 2004 – 2008. August's research interests include: feminist art; video and performance art; conceptual and post-conceptual art; art historiography; art as activism; critical theory; and American art, political and social history.

In addition to her research into modern and contemporary art of North America and Britain (1960 to present), August has written on the work of Bashir Makhoul, including co-editing a monograph of this artist's work (published 2012). August additionally is researching the work of post-conceptual documentary photographer Fred Lonidier, and writing on issues around Gender and Subcultures.

Research project