Caitlin Black

Caitlin M. Black is a visual arts and design educator currently based in Providence, RI, where she is an assistant professor in RISD’s Teaching + Learning in Art + Design department. She has a variety of professional experiences in museum, community, and classroom settings. She worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and taught visual art in public schools for nearly a decade, working with students in grades PreK-12 in New Jersey and California. Prior to joining RISD, Caitlin taught undergraduate and graduate art education courses at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA and Rhode Island College (RIC) in Providence.

Her research focuses on the transformational power of the arts in cultivating more inclusive communities. She is interested in the significance of community engagement and accessibility in creating meaningful arts opportunities that promote empathy, connection, and healing rooted in social justice.

Black’s work has been published in a variety of peer-reviewed publications including the Journal of Social Theory in Art Education, Studies in Art Education, and Art Education. She co-authored a chapter in Restorative Practices in Education Through the Arts (Davis, 2025). She earned her BA with a major in studio art and minor in art history from James Madison University, an MA in art education from Boston University, and a PhD in education with an emphasis in art education from Virginia Commonwealth University.