Doctoral Research
Examining how museums can create more culturally responsive experiences–
Jocelyn Lewis is a Detroit-born visual artist, educator, and doctoral researcher whose work explores the intersections of transatlantic Blackness, cultural memory, and diasporic identity.
Areas of Inquiry
Black representation in museums
Learning through visual culture
Visitor engagement
Community-centered exhibitions
Engagement Pathways
Visual Narratives
Through portraiture, textiles, symbolism, and mixed media processes, these works explore themes of cultural memory, diasporic identity, Black joy, and ancestral connection. Each piece serves as an invitation to reflect on the stories, histories, and lived experiences that continue to shape our collective understanding of self and community.
Research
As a doctoral student in Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Curation, Jocelyn investigates how museums create opportunities for learning, representation, and community engagement. Her research examines the relationships between cultural memory, exhibition design, visitor experience, and the interpretation of Black histories and identities within museum spaces.
Curatorial Practice
Jocelyn Lewis approaches curatorial practice as a form of storytelling, education, and community engagement. Grounded in her background as both a visual artist and educator, she is interested in how exhibitions can create meaningful connections between audiences, objects, histories, and lived experiences.
Her curatorial interests center on visitor-centered approaches that prioritize accessibility, cultural context, and dialogue.
Public scholarship
Public scholarship is an essential part of research and creative practice. This archive features conference presentations, lectures, symposium talks, and professional engagements that contribute to conversations surrounding art education, museum studies, cultural memory, and exhibition design.
Teaching
For more than seven years, Jocelyn has worked as an art educator in Detroit and Brooklyn, helping students explore creativity, critical thinking, and cultural understanding through visual art. This section highlights her teaching philosophy, educational experiences, and commitment to fostering meaningful learning environments.
Academic archive
Current Work
This archive documents the research, writing, presentations, and projects supporting Jocelyn’s doctoral studies in Museum Education and Visitor-Centered Curation.
Emblems of Protection and Resilience: A Black Feminist, Fugitive, and Decolonial Cross-Temporal Virtual Exhibition
Emblems of Protection and Resilience is a virtual exhibition that pairs historical and contemporary works from the Detroit Institute of Arts across cultures and time to challenge traditional museum narratives. Grounded in Black Feminist epistemology, the project reimagines how visitors engage with art through cross-temporal storytelling while providing educators with lesson plans and classroom activities that foster critical thinking and meaningful interpretation.
You are appreciated ❤️
Pursuing a career at the intersection of art, education, and museum practice requires ongoing investment in research, creative development, conference participation, travel, materials, and professional opportunities.
If you have found value in my work or would like to support my continued growth as an artist, educator, and doctoral student, I invite you to make a contribution.
Your generosity helps create opportunities for learning, exploration, and public scholarship. Every contribution, regardless of size, is deeply appreciated.
Donations made through this website are voluntary contributions intended to support Jocelyn Lewis’s personal and professional development as an artist, educator, and doctoral student. Contributions are not directed toward, nor do they constitute funding for, any university-sponsored research project, dissertation research, or institutional activity affiliated with Florida State University. Donations do not provide any influence over research activities, findings, publications, or academic outcomes.