Birkbeck alumna Dr Anita Klesch and her husband, A. Gary Klesch, have established a new postdoctoral fellowship dedicated to pioneering research in art history and AI.

London, 19 August 2026 – Klesch announced a new two‑year Fellowship for an outstanding early‑career researcher to explore how artificial intelligence, immersive technologies and digital methods are reshaping the study of art history.

Working across Birkbeck’s Vasari Research Centre for Art and Technology, the Centre for Creative AI and the Immersive Learning Centre, the successful applicant will collaborate with researchers from across the arts, humanities and computer science to advance new ways of interpreting artworks, collections and cultural heritage. They will lead original research programmes, publish scholarly work and contribute to public engagement through lectures, workshops and events. Applications are welcomed from researchers specialising in any aspect of art history from the early Renaissance through to the twentieth century.

Established by A. Gary Klesch and Dr Anita Klesch, the founders of The Klesch Collection, a distinguished private collection of 15^th -17^th century European paintings, the Fellowship reflects their commitment to education and supporting the next generation of art historians. For Dr Anita Klesch, it also represents a meaningful contribution to the institution where she completed both her MA in Computer Applications for History of Art (1999) and PhD in History of Art (2012) and builds on her long-standing interest in bringing digital innovation into art-historical research.

Dr Anita Klesch said: ‘Art history is entering an incredibly exciting new era, with emerging technologies opening up new ways to explore, understand and share our cultural heritage. We wanted this fellowship to give talented early-career researchers the freedom to pursue ambitious ideas and help shape the future of the field. Birkbeck played an important role in my own academic journey, so it feels particularly meaningful to invest in the next generation of art historians. Gary and I are delighted and privileged to be part of this pioneering programme.’