INSTITUTE FOR DOCTORAL STUDIES
IN THE VISUAL ARTS
Based in Philadelphia, PA, Zindzi Harley is a curator, writer, and creative director whose work explores the contributions and impact of Afro-feminism to the dynamic history and development of culturally specific institutions and contemporary museums. She received her B.A. in Arts administration with a minor in Art History from the University of Kentucky and an M.A. in Museology from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she served as the first Diversity Equity and Inclusion Fellow for the Museum Studies program. Harley has received the President's Fund for Excellence, formerly served as Assistant Curator at the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and has independently curated exhibitions for ClayStudio and Delaware Contemporary. She founded the Philadelphia Chapter of Black Girls in Art Spaces, and has collaborated with museums such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fabric Workshop Museum, Philadelphia Magic Gardens, and Delaware Art Museum. Her work as a museum professional and writer has been cited on BET, Magic & Melanin Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Grio. Additionally, Harley is the Founder of Zindzine, a Philadelphia-based arts and culture publication showcasing local artist interviews and submissions.
About the IDSVA David Driskell Fellowship
IDSVA awards one David Driskell Fellowship with each incoming cohort. Driskell Fellows are students who show promise in carrying forward David Driskell's mission to encourage worldwide community and equality through art. For more information, visit our scholarship page.
Dr. David C. Driskell (1931-2020) was a founding member of the IDSVA Visiting Faculty. His inaugural IDSVA lecture was delivered at Spannocchia Castle, Tuscany, in June 2009. His final IDSVA lecture was delivered at Spannocchia Castle in June 2019. The David C. Driskell Fellowship was established in 2010. Dr. Driskell’s message of peace and understanding has inspired countless individuals around the world. In January 2013, Dr. Driskell was awarded an IDSVA Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his life service as an artist-philosopher and a world-leading spiritual philanthropist.
View our impressive list of Driskell Fellows.
About IDSVA
The IDSVA PhD in Visual Arts: Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Art Theory is a research-based PhD for creative thinkers. As a low-residency program blending online interactive education and intensive global residencies, IDSVA is a truly nomadic institution, existing everywhere our students and faculty are.
Apply to IDSVA’s pioneering PhD program by April 7, 2025, for September 2025.
To learn more, Contact Molly Davis, Director of Admissions, info@idsva.edu, or book a conversation here.