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about

biography

Ally Zlatar is an artist, scholar and activist. She is the founder of The Starving Artist; an artist initiative that utilizes creative voices as a way to create advocacy and systemic reform. She also founded The Starving Artist Scholarship Fund which helps people access inpatient mental health treatment. Her "This Body of Mine" campaign explores migrant experiences through creative voices and has helped support individuals and artists from refugee-seeking backgrounds globally.

Ally Zlatar has received numerous accolades for humanitarian work; such as the Commonwealth Innovation Awards (2023), UNWomen 30 for 2030 (2024), winner of The Princess Diana Legacy Award (2021), King Hamad Award for Youth Empowerment (2022), the Lieutenant Governor's Community Volunteer Award from the Ontario Government of Canada (2023) and also special recognition from The British Citizen Award (2022).

She holds a BFA in Visual Art & Art History from Queen's University & an MLitt Curatorial Practice and Contemporary Art from the Glasgow School of Art. Her Doctorate in Creative Arts was completed at the University of Southern Queensland focusing on embodied experiences of mental illness in contemporary art. Zlatar is a Lecturer at the University of Sharjah and has taught at the University of Glasgow, KICL London, and the University of Essex (UEIC).

Zlatar uses art as a tool to delve into the complexity of the human experience, particularly focusing on illness, vulnerability, and authenticity. Her work draws from personal experiences & auto-ethnography to drive change. She recognizes the power in examining the unwell body and utilizes art as a means of activism, aiming to spark dialogue and create societal impact.

research

Zlatar specializes in Art, Philosophy, Sociology, Gender Studies, and Creative Industries. Her teaching prioritizes key historical ideas through qualitative and practice-led research. Research areas include art, ethics, and embodiment, with a current focus on eating disorders ethics and auto-ethnography from her PhD.

She has diverse interests including normative and medical ethics, queer and gender studies, mental health, and art. Her work is published in peer-reviewed journals and books, their work seamlessly connects academia, artistry, and advocacy.

‘topographic’, ally zlatar, acrylic, 6 x 4”, 2023.

https://youtu.be/okUL-1J9TYQ

curriculum vitae

education

Doctoral of Creative Arts & Health |University of Southern Queensland | 2020-2023

Masters of Curatorial Studies and Contemporary Art | Glasgow School of Art | 2018 - 2019
Academic Excellence (Top GPA)
Access Grant, Sustainability Action Recipient
Student-initiated Project Recipient

Bachelor’s Degree, Art & Art History | Queen's University | 2015 - 2018
-Panel Grant Achievement
-Honours List

Mentor College | 2011 - 2015

memberships

Member | Women’s Classical Caucus (WCC) 2019-Current
Member | The Society for Classical Studies (SCS) 2019-Current
Member | Mental Health Foundation Australia 2020 - 2022
Member |University of Southern Queensland Academic Arts & Science 2020-2025
Member |Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) 2020-2025
Member |Association of Academic Museums and Galleries 2021-2023
Member |Royal Historical Society 2021-Current
Member |Eating Disorder Therapist Networking Group (EDTNG) 2022

residencies

awards

2024

20
23

2022

2021

Princess Diana "Legacy Award" | Highest accolade for young people's humanitarian work

Princess Diana's "Diana Award" | Award for inspirational youth social work

Royal Air Force Families Federation | Art Finalist

2016 -2020

Top Sitting Student + Dissertation Excellence

Student Initiated Project Fund

Access Scholarship Award

Sustainability in Action Fund

fellowships

work experience

University of Sharjah | College of Fine Arts and Design| Lecturer | 2024-Present

Teaching
Art and Medicine
Research Methodology
Drawing Fundamentals
Fine Arts Seminar II | Museums and Exhibitions
History of Art and Design
Contemporary Art and Media Theory

Course Coordinating
Art and Medicine
Research Methodology
Contemporary Art and Media Theory
Fine Arts Seminar II | Museums and Exhibitions

Course + Programme Design

Art and Medicine
Co-Design: Bachelors of Art History
Co-Design: Masters of Curatorial Studies

University of Glasgow, Continuing Education| Lecturer | 2024 - Present

Teaching:

Art History
El Greco to Goya: Spanish Painting in Focus (4286)
Great Art Collections (23810)
Great Female Artists of the 20th Century (ADED11691)
Art Collectors and Patrons of Glasgow (ADED11248)
Art Nouveau: DNA of modern life (ADED11986E)

Philosophy
Environmental Ethics: right and wrong in the age of climate crisis (15273) ADED11257
Feminist Philosophies: an introductory guide (4331) ADED12022E
Continental Perspectives on Truth: Nietzsche, Bergson and Deleuze ADED11984E (6840)

Course Development
El Greco to Goya: Spanish Painting in Focus (4286)
Continental perspectives on truth: Nietzsche, Bergson and Deleuze (6840)
Environmental Ethics: right and wrong in the age of climate crisis (15273) ADED11257
Feminist Philosophies: an introductory guide (4331) ADED12022E

University of Glasgow, Anderson College GIC | Lecturer | 2021 - 2024

Module Coordinator| FC719: Art History

Teaching:
FC719: Art History
PM: 618 Critical Thinking, 604 Philosophy, History and Culture, 600 Research Methodology
FC: 207 Study Skills, 704 Sociology, 708 Politics, Extended Projects
Learning Advising 1:1 Teaching Support

Research Mentor| Crimision Education | 2023- Present

Global Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) | IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board)| 2024

European Youth Card Association | Youth Panel Member | 2023-2025

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development | Youth Advisory Board Member | 2022-2024

Engage, National Association for Gallery Education, UK | Board Trustee | 2022 - Present

Kaplan International College, London | Lecturer | 2021

PM606 Advanced Social Science

University of Essex International College | Lecturer | 2021

PM601 UK Society and Culture
PM606 Advanced Social Science

Lord & Lion Arts | Assistant Curator and Art Broker | 2019 - 2020

Centre for Contemporary Arts, Glasgow | Curatorial Assistant | 2019 - 2020

Development of CCA Publication Studio & Archives
Research on Communism & Folk Revival in Scotland

The Hunterian and Hayward Galleries | Curator | 2019

Glasgow School of Art | Residence Supervisor | 2018 - 2019

Queen's University | Graduate Residence Supervisor | 2016 - 2018

Mentor College | Visual Art Teacher (Grades 7, 8, 11, 12) | 2014 - 2017

Agnes Etherington Art Centre | Curatorial Assistant of Contemporary Art | 2015 - 2017

Highlight Shows: Lost Bodies, The Hold; Studies in Contemporary Collection

Art Gallery of Mississauga | Administrative Executive Assistant | 2013 - 2014

Highlight Shows: 6 Characters in Search of a Photograph, Sahmat: Art Activism in India since 1989

community engagement

20
24

20
23

20
22

TEDx Speaker | 'Art and Climat Activism' | University of Stirling

Judge | Global Good Awards

Panellist | Artsidize: Making Artistic Innovations Count for Empowerment | Artdialogo

Panellist | Youth Conference 2022 By Tempo Media & Development Dialogue Asia

Podcast Guest | BBC Sounds ‘Ally Zlatar is bringing 'Starving Artist' to the island‘

Representative | ‘Youth Mental Health’ Goethe- Institute: Voices of Culture, Brussels

Speaker | American School of Barcelona

Speaker | Scottish Parliament: Holyrood Evidence Week - Mental Health

Speaker and Panelist | International Youth Mental Health Conference, Copenhagen

Speaker | Career Lounge: Health & Social Care, Diana Mentoring Programme

Speaker | Conversations for Change: Authenticity and Vulnerability in Activism

Speaker | YouthLink Scotland Policy Convention: Youth Work is Human Rights Work

Speaker | Oxford University: Understanding Mental Illness Through Visual Arts

Speaker | Dandelion Festival Scotland

Speaker | Scottish Parliament: Holyrood Volunteers Week

Speaker| Dismantling the Body in Art Making Symposium, University of Washington

Speaker | ’The Way Ahead’ National Initiative for Eating Disorders

Speaker | Le Rocquier School

Speaker | Jersey College for Girls

Speaker | JEDS: Jersey Eating Disorders Support

Speaker | Talking EDs: Eating Disorder Support Services

Speaker | Eating Disorder Therapist Networking Group

Podcast Guest | The Tomato Timer #058

Judge | Reimagine Education Awards

Master Class | Oxford Royal Academy: Arts and Lived-in Experiences Workshop

Workshop | The Starving Artist by ArtHouse Jersey

Visiting Activist | International Conference on Family Planning, Thailand

20
21

Speaker | Spectrums of Hope- World Children’s Day, Artdialogo Asia

Speaker | Art and Activism Workshop- Diana Award

Speaker | One Young Person, One Member of Parliament, One Hour | Glasgow Central MP

Speaker | "The Starving Artist" Institute for Feminist Legal Studies York University

Speaker | Association of Academic Museums & Galleries Conference "Health & Wellness"

Speaker | British Museum’s London Drawing Group: Feminist Lecturer Series

Speaker | Together! Disability Month Festival | Artist Discussion

Podcast Guest | Jo’s Art History Podcast "Complex Moral Issues of Animal Ethics in Art"

20
20

Panel Chair | "Drawing In The World" for "Hand Drawn Action Packed" Hunterian Gallery

Speaker | Glasgow School of Art Postgraduate Art Symposium

solo exhibitions

curatorial

2024

Belonging; Navigating Artists Navigating identity in African Diaspora | The Starving Artist | 2024

The Meeting Point: Examining Female Migration Experiences | The Starving Artist | 2024

Not Another Fish In The Sea: Art Advocacy for Marine and Ocean Conservation | The Starving Artist | 2024

This Body of Mine: Lived-in Experiences of Disability and Ableism| The Starving Artist | 2024

The Body Revolts / The Body Aligns: Exploring Queer Embodied Experiences| The Starving Artist | 2024

2023

2022-2019

2018-2014

group exhibitions

20
24

20
23

In the crossfire - War, Displacement and Refuge | Socially Engaged Art Salon + Refugee Week UK

Out of Sight Out of Mind | Summerhall

The Male Figure | Gallery Kunstbehandlung

Vilomah: Hidden Loss & Untold Futures | Citizens Art Gallery

TransFusion | TransArts Festival

Passage of Time | A.D. Gallery UNC Pembroke

Les Balkannes | Contempl’Art

Places We Live | Gallery Omata
-Best In Show Honour

Action Against Hate; Diversity & Religion Exhibition | University of West Minister and Get The Trolls Out

20
22

To Be Named | Smithsonian Institution’s Recovering Voices program, EHCN

Food: Recipe or Remedy | Royal College of Physicians

Pint of Science | Creative Reactions Brazil

ArtFest Voices | University of Maryland

Migrations | Wirtualne Muzeum Antropocenu

ArtOut | LGBT+ Resource Center & Gulfport Library

Pause for Thought | Shoe Factory

Unapologetically Me | Norwich University of the Arts & Empowering Arts

Out of Wounds: Art Uncovering Gender Violence | Milostka Center & Culturally Arts Collective

Out of Sight Out of Mind | Summerhall

20
21

Visions of Climate Heritage | Historic Environment Scotland

Food Justice in Appalachia | West Virginia University Libraries

Industrial Symbiosis: Circular Fashion | Barcelona Design Week, Design Manchester & Disseny Hub

Gender Now | Morehead State University & Golding-Yang Gallery

Digital Superpower! | Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival

Look Up! | Journeys Festival

Aesthetics Flex PD Art Project | NHS Birkhead, Open Door Charity & Convenience Gallery

Colours of Confluence | Aureo Gallery-US & Art Bank International

Art In Isolation | Columbia University & Teacher’s College | Art School Pedagogy 2.0 Symposium

Pint of Science | University of Nottingham & Creative Reactions

Climate Action & Visual Culture | University of Huddersfield

20
20

Being Human: Apart but Together | Queen Mary University

Sex Workers Outreach Project | D17 Day of Remembrance

In-Between | Brick Lane Gallery & TOMA TimeBank Space

Not Going Back to Normal | Edinburgh Collective

Detour | University of Maine Emery Arts Center

Confinement Chronicle | Frikifish Spain

Subvert | Toula Gallery

After Greed Became Form | White Rectangle

Coexistence | Natura, Arte Habitat

NY20+ International | Nongyuan Culture

Art of Caring | Nongyuan Culture

CRACovid(a) Project | Centro in Romagna per la Ricerca Arte Contemporanea

SHIFT; International Biennale of Performance & Participatory Arts | Edinburgh College of Art

publications

Zlatar, A. (2024) The Transformative Power of Art in Healthcare Reform A Case Study of “The Starving Artist”. European Alternatives Journal – Issue 4.

Zlatar, A. (2023). Advanced Replicating Technology in Adventure Fiction: The Philosophical Implications of Material Synthesizer in The Orville. In P. Keikhosrokiani & M. Pourya Asl (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Artificial Intelligence Applications in Literary Works and Social Media (pp. 142-150). IGI Global. doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-6242-3.ch007

Zlatar, A. (2023). ‘Violated Voices: Millennial Messages of Sexual Violence in the Music of Contemporary Female Artists’, Groundings Journal.

Zlatar, A. (2023). Book Review: The Troubles of Emil Cioran, HMU: Dialogues. Harrison Middleton University. https://www.hmu.edu/hmu-blog/2023/5/12/book-review-the-troubles-of-emil-cioran

Zlatar, A. (2023). The Art of Japanese Death Game Films Through Analysis of As The Gods Will, Harrison Middleton University. https://www.hmu.edu/hmu-blog/2023/3/3/the-art-of-japanese-death-game-films-through-analysis-of-as-the-gods-will

Zlatar, A. (2022). The Last Yugoslavia. In Smithsonian Institution and Recovering Voices program, cooling, and the Experimental Humanities Collaborative Network (EHCN).

Zlatar, A. (2022). One Eating Disorder to Rule Them All: Understanding Tolkien’s Middle-Earth as A Metaphor for the Eating Disorder Experience. In Tolkien’s Medicinal Medieval World: Illness and Healing in Middle-earth.

Zlatar, A. (2022). Family Affair. In Migratory Yellow Pages / La Sección Amarilla de la Migración. Minerva Cuevas and University of Texas-El Paso Rubin Center.

Zlatar, A. (2022). Sunday Service; An Exploration into Autoethnographic Eating Disorder Art. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 221(1), B1-B1. doi:10.1192/bjp.2022.64

Zlatar, A. (2022). When the Body is Ill, The Mind Suffers: Shakespeare’s Unravelling of Women’s Hysteria and Madness in the Elizabethan Era. The Collation, Folger Shakespeare’s Library.

Zlatar, A. (2022). Metaphor in eating disorder art: Understanding the lived-in experience. In Metaphor, meaning, message: Imagined representations of the creative arts, NiTRO Edition 41 – April.

Zlatar, A., et al. (2022). Chapter 1. Brainstorming Report 'Youth, Mental Health and Culture. EU Commission, Voices of Culture.

Zlatar, A. (2021). One Body, My Body No Body: An Investigation Into The Life of An Artist Who Endures an Eating Disorder, Body Dysmorphia and Mental Illness. ISBN: 9781006904400.

Zlatar, A., & Ali, A. M. (2021). When Two Bodies Meet. Ross Lynn Charitable Foundation and North Central Louisiana Arts Council. ISBN: 9781006255144.

Zlatar, A. (2019). The Starving Artist: Understanding the Value of Eating Disorders, Body Image and Thinness in Art. ISBN: 9780464021513.

View More: media and press releases

about

biography

research

curriculum vitae

education

memberships

residencies

awards

2024

20 23

2022

2021

2016 -2020

fellowships

work experience

community engagement

20 24

20 23

20 22

20 21

2020

solo exhibitions

curatorial

2024

2023

2022-2019

2018-2014

group exhibitions

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

publications

20
23

20
24

20
23

20
22

20
21

20
20

20
24

20
23

20
22

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21

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