The Department of Visual Arts at Western University invites applications for one full-time position in painting practices in the Department of Visual Arts. The successful candidate will be appointed to a Limited Term appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will be appointed for a term of 2 years at a 50% reduced workload. The anticipated start date is of January 1st, 2027, or as negotiated. This position is an existing vacancy. 

Applications will be considered from qualified candidates who currently have a PhD or MFA. The candidate must have an active exhibition record and contribute to their field of practice.

The responsibilities for the position include a 2-2 teaching load (Western University has a semester system). The successful candidate will participate in the delivery of undergraduate and graduate courses, both core and optional courses, as well as mentoring MFA and PhD students. Participation in graduate examinations and service to the Department, the University, and the profession are also required. 

The successful candidate will demonstrate effectiveness in teaching and a commitment to innovative pedagogy, curriculum development, mentorship of students, and service. The successful applicant will provide evidence of a painting practice informed by strong artistic and technical foundations, including traditional, experimental, or expanded approaches that engage with contemporary art theory and critical discourse. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, as well as evidence of an ability to contribute to an inclusive learning environment, are requirements. We are seeking a candidate who is collaborative, collegial and community minded, who is keen to engage in the workings of the department. The successful candidate is expected to maintain a regular on campus presence at Western University. 

Review of applicants will begin shortly after July 15, 2026. 

Application materials should be submitted as a single PDF and must include:

• cover letter addressing how the applicant’s expertise fits this position and complements the strengths in the Department of Visual Arts
• detailed and up-to-date curriculum vitae (including a listing of relevant exhibitions, publications, authored works, and reviews)
• a teaching dossier (containing a teaching philosophy, sample course syllabi, evidence of teaching experience and effectiveness, experience as a mentor, examples of prior curriculum or program development/renewal work, and any examples of other educational leadership contributions)
• statement of experience working with a diverse student body and contributions to collegiality and advancing a culture of equity and inclusion
• statement of research-creation, including URL to (and/or a PDF of) visual documentation of current work
• complete the “Application for Full-Time Faculty Position Form” (https://www.uwo.ca/facultyrelations/pdf/full-time-application-form.pdf )
• names and contact information of three references*

*Please note that we do not require letters of reference for your initial application. However, your listed references should be willing to provide a confidential letter of reference at a later date.

Compensation details: $48,000 to $60,000. Salary to be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applications should be sent via email to:

Chair, Department of Visual Arts

Western University

John Labbatt Visual Arts Centre, room 200-C

London ON, Canada, N6A 5B7

vachair@uwo.ca

Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Western challenges the best and brightest faculty, staff and students to commit to the highest global standards. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities.

The Department of Visual Arts is a vibrant and diverse community of faculty, staff, and students in studio art, art history, and museum and curatorial studies, and hosts Master’s and PhD programs. It was the first English-speaking institution in Canada to offer a PhD in studio art and has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary practice within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, as well as the broader academic community at Western University. It is also an integral part of the arts community of the city of London, home to Museum London, the Forest City Gallery, as well as Western’s own McIntosh Gallery. The department is committed to the inclusion of underrepresented voices in the Visual Arts and is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and decolonization in our discipline through research and teaching. General information about the department can be found at https://www.uwo.ca/visarts/index.html.  

Any inquiries about the position may be directed to the Department Chair, at vachair@uwo.ca. 

Western, like many postsecondary institutions in Canada, is moving beyond sole reliance upon Indigenous self-identification in its hiring processes. This is to safeguard against the use of incorrect, incomplete, or misleading information in circumstances in which a candidate has made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership. Candidates who are invited for an interview or who are short-listed, and who have made a declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership for material advantage at Western, including where required or preferred for the position, will be asked to have their declaration of Indigenous citizenship or membership affirmed through a relational accountability process, led by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives (OII), that is consistent with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Please contact the OII directly for details on the affirmation processes: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/. The policy can be viewed at: POLICY 1.58 - Affirming Declarations of Indigenous Citizenship or Membership at Western University (https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/policies_procedures/section1/mapp158.pdf). 

Positions are subject to budget approval. Applicants should have fluent written and oral communication skills in English. The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. 

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Jennifer Cordick (jcordic@uwo.ca)