Helena Reckitt is a curator and researcher with extensive international experience in developing curatorial and critical research projects that focus on the overlapping realms of Art, Curating, Feminism and Sexual Politics; Affect & Relationality; and Curatorial Education.
Her research explores the undetonated potential of earlier moments of cultural and political radicalism, particularly those from the feminist and queer past. Having played a key role in defining, and arguing for the importance of, feminist and queer perspectives on art, theory and activism, recently Reckitt has focused on identifying feminisms that are under-represented within the Anglo-American canon. She explores why these feminisms have been elided, and stages research projects that revisit and reignite them through forms of translation, re-enactment, annotation, and collective reading. Drawing on theories of social reproduction and affect, her research examines the sexual politics of artistic and curatorial labour, including the implications of curators and curatorial students being interpellated as feminized. Connecting these research areas are the numerous exhibitions and discursive events that she has initiated that explore art and curating’s generative potential and relational dimensions.
Her previous roles include Senior Curator of Programmes, the Power Plant, Toronto (2006 – 2010); Senior Director of Exhibitions and Education, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, GA (2002 – 2005); Head of Talks/Deputy Director of Talks, Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (1990 – 1998); and Associate Commissioning Editor, Film and Performance Studies, Routledge, London (1988 – 1990). As an independent curator she has developed projects for Nuit Blanche, City of Toronto; Flux Night, Atlanta; Oakville Galleries, Ontario; Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto; and the ICA, Raven Row, SPACE and The Showroom, London.
Teaching
Prior to arriving at Goldsmiths, Helena served as an adjunct professor for the graduate programme in Art History at York University in Toront, and the Atlanta College of Art and Emory University in Georgia. She was the Clark Collection Critic and Curator in Residence at the University of Victoria in New Zealand.
Professional Projects
Helena is a member and former Board Chair (2011-17) of the Women’s Art Library at Goldsmiths, a member of the Centre for Feminist Research, and an editorial board member for the Goldsmiths Press. She is a board member and Acting Chair for Electra in London. She has served as a consultant or juror for organizations including the Creative Capital Foundation, MCAD/McKnight Foundation, Kentucky Arts Council, City of Toronto, Ontario College of Art and Design, and C Magazine. Her exhibitions and programmes have been supported by grants from public, private and government agencies including the Arts Council of England, National Endowment for the Arts, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts, Jack Weinbaum Family Foundation, Bickel Foundation, French Cultural Consul, Goethe Institute, Danish Arts Agency, Mondriaan Foundation, Japan Foundation, Creative New Zealand, and the Canada Council for the Arts. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Curatorial Studies, is a cofounder of Feminist Curators United (fCu), and is a member of IKT, the international association of curators of contemporary art.
She has written for magazines including Art Papers, C Magazine, New York Arts Magazine, Art Asia Pacific, frieze, and the Times Higher Education Supplement, for the academic periodicals Art Journal, Reading Room, and the Journal of Curatorial Studies, and for books published by Routledge, Manchester University Press, Liverpool University Press, the University of Minnesota Press, Calvert 22, and the Whitechapel Gallery.
Publications and research outputs
Book Section
Nicole Gets ItReckitt, Helena. 2023. Nicole Gets It. In: Mark Godfrey and Monika Bayer-Wermuth, eds. Nicole Eisenman: What Happened? London: Whitechapel Gallery and Museum Brandhorst, pp. 68-69. ISBN 9780854883127
Productive RefusalsReckitt, Helena. 2021. Productive Refusals. In: Edward Ball, ed. Old Land, New Waters. London: Freelands Foundation, pp. 134-139.
Taking (Back) CareReckitt, Helena. 2020. Taking (Back) Care. In: Sharon Kivland and Rebecca Jagoe, eds. On Care. London: ma bibliotheque, pp. 196-202. ISBN 978-1-910055-71-7
Inside Job: Learning, Collaboration, and Queer Feminist Contagion in Killjoy’s KastleReckitt, Helena. 2019. Inside Job: Learning, Collaboration, and Queer Feminist Contagion in Killjoy’s Kastle. In: Allyson Mitchell and Cait McKinney, eds. Inside Killjoy's Kastle: Dykey Ghosts, Feminist Monsters, and Other Lesbian Hauntings. Vancouver and Toronto, Canada: The University of British Columbia Press and The Art Gallery of York University, pp. 1-22. ISBN 9780774861571
Proposition 7, Productive RefusalsReckitt, Helena and Martinis Roe, Alex. 2018. Proposition 7, Productive Refusals. In: Alex Martinis Roe, ed. To Become Two: Propositions for Feminist Collective Practice. Berlin: Archive Books, pp. 199-201. ISBN 9783943620580
Between MirrorsReckitt, Helena. 2014. Between Mirrors. In: Sarah Pucill, ed. Magic Mirror (DVD). London: LUX, pp. 1-17. ISBN 9780992884017
A conversation between Michael Pinsky and Helena Reckitt Pinsky, Michael and Reckitt, Helena. 2014. A conversation between Michael Pinsky and Helena Reckitt. In: Mei Huang, ed. Michael Pinsky Survey. Chengdu, China: Museum of Contemporary Art, Chengdu, Edition Xin Dong Cheng. ISBN 978-2-915823-23-3
Forgotten Relations: Feminist Artists and Relational AestheticsReckitt, Helena. 2013. Forgotten Relations: Feminist Artists and Relational Aesthetics. In: Angela Dimitrakaki and Lara Perry, eds. Politics in a Glass: Case Feminism, Exhibition Cultures and Curatorial Transgressions. 7 Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, pp. 131-156. ISBN 9781846318931
Gerard Byrne: Like a ManReckitt, Helena. 2013. Gerard Byrne: Like a Man. In: Kirsty Ogg, ed. Gerard Byrne: A State of Neutral Pleasure. London and Stockholm: The Whitechapel Gallery, pp. 36-51. ISBN 978-0-85488-212-0
Boy's LifeReckitt, Helena. 2007. Boy's Life. In: Nigel Prince, ed. Stephen Shearer. Birmingham, UK, and Toronto, Canada: Ikon and The Power Plant. ISBN 978-1-90486432-5
Article
What is Feminist about 'Feminist' Shows?Reckitt, Helena; Bramich, Beth; Džuverović, Lina; Fuller, Sabrina; Iohe, Taey; Lemos, Mariana and Lock, Katrin. 2023. What is Feminist about 'Feminist' Shows? Art Review, ISSN 1745-9303
CEED (Central & East European Diasporas) FeminismsReckitt, Helena; Krish, Jessie; Narkevičius, Adomas and Fuller, Sabrina. 2023. CEED (Central & East European Diasporas) Feminisms. In: "CEED Feminisms", Cell Project Space, London, United Kingdom, 4 May 2023 - 20 March 2024.
Resonance and TransmissionReckitt, Helena; Moser, Gabrielle; Damiani, Giulia and Parent, Vanessa. 2022. Resonance and Transmission. In: "fORUM: Resonance and Transmission", Mercer Union, Toronto and online, Canada, 7 October - 17 November 2022.
Habits of CareReckitt, Helena. 2017. Habits of Care. In: "Habits of Care", Blackwood Gallery, University of Toronto, Canada, 11-30 September 2017.
Getting Rid of OurselvesReckitt, Helena. 2014. Getting Rid of Ourselves. In: "Getting Rid of Ourselves", OCAD U Onsite Gallery, Canada, July 16 2014 - October 11 2014.
Adaptation: Between SpeciesReckitt, Helena. 2010. Adaptation: Between Species. In: "Adaptation: Between Species", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada, 19 June - 12 August, 2010.
Ryan Trecartin: Any EverReckitt, Helena and Davies, Jon. 2010. Ryan Trecartin: Any Ever. In: "Ryan Trecartin: Any Ever", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada, The Power Plant: 26 March - 24 May, 2010; LA MOCA: 18 July - 17 October, 2010; MOCA Miami: 24 June - 4 September, 2011; MoMA/PS1: June 19, 2011—September 3, 2011.
Joachim Koester: HypnagogiaReckitt, Helena. 2010. Joachim Koester: Hypnagogia. In: "Joachim Koester: Hypnagogia", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada, 26 March - 24 May, 2010.
Paul Shambroom: Picturing PowerReckitt, Helena; Mullin, Diane and Scoates, Christopher. 2009. Paul Shambroom: Picturing Power. In: "Paul Shambroom: Picturing Power", Weisman Art Museum- University. of Minnesota, United States, 1 April 2008 - 5 April 2009.
Carey Young: Counter OfferReckitt, Helena. 2009. Carey Young: Counter Offer. In: "Carey Young: Counter Offer", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada, 14 March - 18 May 2009.
Harrell Fletcher: Born out of PleasureReckitt, Helena; Fletcher, Harrell; Bastos, Augusto; Brandt, Thomas; Frey, Sean; Jickling, Hannah; Kobayashi, Alison SM; O'Donnell, Darren; Reed, Helen; Reid, Kerri; Shaw, Kristin; Swintak, Swintak; Tanaka, Maiko; Wah, Amy and Wielonda, Karen. 2008. Harrell Fletcher: Born out of Pleasure. In: "Harrell Fletcher: Born out of Pleasure", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada.
Manon de BoerReckitt, Helena. 2008. Manon de Boer. In: "Manon de Boer", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada, 20 September - 23 November, 2008.
Not Quite How I Remember ItReckitt, Helena. 2008. Not Quite How I Remember It. In: "Not Quite How I Remember It", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada, 7 June - 1 September, 2008.
Yael Bartana, RitualReckitt, Helena and Bartana, Yael. 2007. Yael Bartana, Ritual. In: "Yael Bartana, Ritual", The Power Plant, Toronto, Canada, 1 March - 22 April 2007.
Hew Locke: House of CardsReckitt, Helena; Joyce, Julie and Locke, Hew. 2004. Hew Locke: House of Cards. In: "Hew Locke: House of Cards", Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Atlanta, GA, United States, November 13 2004 – January 8 2005.
What Business Are You In?Reckitt, Helena. 2004. What Business Are You In?. In: "What Business Are You In?", Atlanta Contemporary Art Centre, GA, United States, 29 January - 26 March 2005.
Solidarity-in-Difference: Feminist Collective PracticesReckitt, Helena and Martinis Roe, Alex. 2024. 'Solidarity-in-Difference: Feminist Collective Practices'. In: Solidarity-in-Difference: Feminist Collective Practices, as part of PLATFORM's training programme for young cultural managers and curators. PLATFORM, Münchner Arbeit gGmbH, Munich, Germany 14 November 2024.
Why Don't We Quit?Reckitt, Helena; Džuverović, Lina; Cruz, Carla; Hall, Lily; Allen, Felicity; Knezevic, Ana and Epstajan, Emilia. 2024. 'Why Don't We Quit?'. In: 'Hope is a Discipline' public programme. October Salon, Belgrade, Serbia 21 October 2024.
Drawing for Our LivesReckitt, Helena; Fuller, Sabrina and Torrell, Ehryn. 2023. 'Drawing for Our Lives'. In: Drawing for Our Lives. Drawing Room, London, United Kingdom 26 March 2024.
What do we mean when we talk about care?Reckitt, Helena; Bramich, Beth; Clements, Leah and Katrin, Lock. 2023. 'What do we mean when we talk about care?'. In: Women in Revolt Conference. Tate Britain, United Kingdom 22-23 March 2024.
Writing and Thinking Together about Affective Labour and CollectivityReckitt, Helena; Majewska-Guede, Karolina and Cruz, Carla. 2023. 'Writing and Thinking Together about Affective Labour and Collectivity'. In: The lost-and-found: revising art stories in search of potential changes. Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal 6-7 December 2023.
Collectivity & CareReckitt, Helena; Fuller, Sabrina; Zhihan, Dot Jia and Iohe, Taey. 2023. 'Collectivity & Care'. In: Collectivity & Care. Eastside Projects, Birmingham, United Kingdom 10 May 2023.
The Third Hand —Claire, Bernadette and FriendsReckitt, Helena; McCormack, Chris; van Noord, Gerrie and Džuverović, Lina. 2022. 'The Third Hand —Claire, Bernadette and Friends'. In: And Others: The Gendered Politics and Practices of Art Collectives, Panel Four: ‘The Third Hand’—Claire, Bernadette and Friends. Birkbeck, University of London, and online, United Kingdom 1 December 2022.
Taking Care: Revaluation of Practices and Ethics of CareReckitt, Helena. 2022. 'Taking Care: Revaluation of Practices and Ethics of Care'. In: This Time We Talk About Gender/Cette fois, parlons du genre: DCA - the French national network for contemporary art centres. Online, France 10 May 2022.
Masculinities: Feminist Duration Reading GroupReckitt, Helena; Fuller, Sabrina and Dunster, Flora. 2020. 'Masculinities: Feminist Duration Reading Group'. In: Masculinities. Barbican Art Gallery and online, London, United Kingdom 5 March – 17 October 2020.
Curating and/as CareReckitt, Helena. 2020. 'Curating and/as Care'. In: New Alphabet School #4 Caring. Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany 12 June 2020.
Dying Under Your Eyes, DiscussionReckitt, Helena; Ashery, Oreet; Vasey, George and Wilson, Stephen. 2019. 'Dying Under Your Eyes, Discussion'. In: Dying Before Your Eyes, Screening & Discussion. Wellcome Collection, Londono, United Kingdom 10 October 2019.
(Un)Learning Habits of CareReckitt, Helena and Ndritu, Grace. 2019. '(Un)Learning Habits of Care'. In: (Un)Learning Habits of Care Workshop. Studio Voltaire, London, United Kingdom 19-22 September 2019.
Taking (Back) Care WorkshopReckitt, Helena and Shaw, Christine. 2019. 'Taking (Back) Care Workshop'. In: Taking (Back) Care Workshop. Cité internationale des arts, Paris, France 17 May 2019.
Productive Refusals WorkshopReckitt, Helena. 2019. 'Productive Refusals Workshop'. In: Freelands Artist Programme Symposium. Site Gallery, Sheffield, United Kingdom 19 June 2019.
Unknown: discussionReckitt, Helena; Shani, Tai and Sin, Victoria. 2019. 'Unknown: discussion'. In: Unknown screening. Danielle Arnaud Gallery, London, United Kingdom 15 February 2019.
~in waves~ intensive residency of feminist curatingReckitt, Helena. 2018. '~in waves~ intensive residency of feminist curating'. In: part 12: ~in waves~ intensive residency of feminist curating. Hanaholmen – the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre, Hanasaarenranta 5, 02100 Espoo, Finland 26-30 November 2018.
Soft Covers: Queer Feminist PublishingReckitt, Helena; Dunster, Flora; Siwisa, Kefiloe and Tobin, Amy. 2018. 'Soft Covers: Queer Feminist Publishing'. In: Strange Perfume LGBTQIA book fair. South London Gallery, London, United Kingdom 26 May 2018.
Being Visible at the ICAReckitt, Helena. 2018. 'Being Visible at the ICA'. In: From Critical Studies to Public Programming: Public Knowledge at the Post-Democratic Impasse. Goldsmiths, University of London, United Kingdom 18 May 2018.
Curating and CareReckitt, Helena; Shaw, Christine; Wilkinson, Jayne and Rage, Raju. 2017. 'Curating and Care'. In: Care Crisis, Care Corrective: An Open Forum on Cultural Work. Blackwood Gallery, University of Toronto, Canada 23 September 2017.
Wages for Housework—The Canadian Context Moser, Gabrielle; Rousseau, Christine and Reckitt, Helena. 2017. 'Wages for Housework—The Canadian Context'. In: Wages for Housework - The Canadian Context. Art Metropole, Toronto, Canada 5 September 2017.
Feminist Emergency: The art field Lloyd, Kirsten; Dimitrakaki, Angela; Perry, Lara; Jefferis, Kerri; Robinson, Hilary; Reckitt, Helena and UNSPECIFIED. 2017. 'Feminist Emergency: The art field'. In: Feminist Emergency: The art field. Birkbeck, University of London, United Kingdom 23 June 2017.
Hot Lines Phillipson, Heather; Cammock, Helen; Nisbet, Helen; Di Franco, Karen and Reckitt, Helena. 2017. 'Hot Lines'. In: Hot Lines. The Drawing Room, London, United Kingdom 3 July 2017.
Starting From the Self to Depart From the SelfReckitt, Helena. 2017. 'Starting From the Self to Depart From the Self'. In: Starting from the Self in Order to Depart from the Self. Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham, United Kingdom 11 July 2017.
Introduction to Feminist ArtReckitt, Helena. 2016. 'Introduction to Feminist Art'. In: Introduction to Feminist Art. Frieze Academy, London, United Kingdom 2 November 2017.
Productive RefusalsReckitt, Helena and Martinis Roe, Alex. 2016. 'Productive Refusals'. In: To Become Two. Casco,Office for Art, Design & Theory, Utrecht, Netherlands 20 November 2016 - 2017.
'F*CK WAR, LET’S MAKE ART' Lowther, Rachel and Reckitt, Helena. 2016. ''F*CK WAR, LET’S MAKE ART''. In: F*CK WAR, LET’S MAKE ART. Glasgow School of Art, United Kingdom 17 February 2016.
Queer Futures and World-BuildingReckitt, Helena; Martinson, Erik and Aarne, Nella. 2016. 'Queer Futures and World-Building'. In: Queer Futures and World-Building. Goldsmiths, University of London, United Kingdom 3 May 2016.
Now Can We Go? Refusal and labour in the art worldReckitt, Helena. 2015. 'Now Can We Go? Refusal and labour in the art world'. In: Labours of Love, Works of Passion: The social (re)production of art workers from industrialisation to globalisation. AAH2016: Annual Art Historians Conference, Edinburgh, United Kingdom 7-9 April 2016.
Capitalist Artist Scum #1 and #2Reckitt, Helena; Malik, Suhail; Yuile, Laura; Kulendran Thomas, Christopher; Kulesh, Leslie; Cameron, Angus; Pil & Galia, Kollectiv; DKUK, DKUK; Pollard, Alexander James and Luke, Kristin. 2015. 'Capitalist Artist Scum #1 and #2'. In: FORUM: Capitalist Artist Scum. Open School East, London, United Kingdom 24 September 2015-11 November 2015.
Drama in the GalleryReckitt, Helena. 2014. 'Drama in the Gallery'. In: Drama in the Gallery. Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, United Kingdom 5 December 2014.
Experimental FeminismsReckitt, Helena; Ahmed, Sara; Phillipson, Heather; Waidner, Isabel and Calver, Julia. 2014. 'Experimental Feminisms'. In: Experimental Feminisms. Centre for Feminist Research, Goldsmiths, United Kingdom 6 June 2014.
My Queer MuseumReckitt, Helena and LGBT, Network. 2013. 'My Queer Museum'. In: My Queer Museum. Victoria & Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom 15 March 2013.
Getting Rid of YourselfReckitt, Helena. 2013. 'Getting Rid of Yourself'. In: Socially Engaged Practice: Ethics, Aesthetics, Politics or Economics?. Centre for Contemporary Art, Glasgow, United Kingdom 2 March 2013.
The Trouble With Artist CollectivesReckitt, Helena. 2013. 'The Trouble With Artist Collectives'. In: The Trouble With Artist Collectives. Institute of Contemporary Arts, London, United Kingdom 17 April 2013.
RehearsalReckitt, Helena. 2011. 'Rehearsal'. In: Rehearsal. Adam Auditorium, City Gallery Wellington, New Zealand 17 August 2011.
Performing Publics, Panel on Artists’ Re-enactmentReckitt, Helena. 2010. 'Performing Publics, Panel on Artists’ Re-enactment'. In: Performing Publics: Artists' Re-enactments. Performance Studies International, Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto, Canada 9 - 13 June 2010.
Vancouver and its FeminismsReckitt, Helena. 2008. 'Vancouver and its Feminisms'. In: Vancouver and its Feminisms. Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver, Canada 25 October 2008.
Back to the Front: Critical Curatorial PanelReckitt, Helena. 2008. 'Back to the Front: Critical Curatorial Panel'. In: CREATING RESISTANCE: Arts Practice/ Political Praxis. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 24 October 2008.
Delicate: Art and Post-Millennial CultureReckitt, Helena; Rhodes, Richard; Zeppetelli, John and Moore, Gareth. 2008. 'Delicate: Art and Post-Millennial Culture'. In: Delicate: Art and Post-Millennial Culture. Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, Canada 20 September 2008.
The Curious CuratorReckitt, Helena. 'The Curious Curator'. In: Resilient Communities. Italian Pavilion, Biennale of Architecture, La Biennale di Venezia, Italy 9 November 2021.
