Emily S. Hamilton, M.A.

Emily Hamilton comes to Buffalo from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where she was the Associate Objects Conservator. During her five years at SFMOMA, she contributed to a collaborative museum structure where stewardship and research endeavors are centered around the voices of living artists. Emily supported the successful installation of SFMOMA’s new building and collections move and completed treatment and research projects on kinetic works by Rebecca Horn, bronze sculptures by Jean (Hans) Arp, and a monumental wooden sculpture by Ursula von Rydingsvard. She also supervised collaborative research projects with graduate students on works by Robert Rauschenberg and Neri Oxman. Previously, she was the Assistant Objects Conservator at the Saint Louis Museum of Art and the Samuel H. Kress Sculpture and Media Conservation Research Fellow at the Museum of Modern Art. Emily earned a B.A. in Art History from Reed College in Portland, Oregon and an M.A. and Certificate of Advanced Study in Art Conservation from Buffalo State College. She served as the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) Objects Specialty Group Postprints editor for eight years. Emily has presented her research nationally and internationally and is passionate about moving the field of conservation forward. 

A selection of her recent research includes:

Hamilton, E. (in progress) Chapter editor for “Bark” and “Leaves” in Caring for Plant Based Material Culture: A Conservation Handbook, eds. L. Kaplan, E. Carrlee, C. Mahony. Routledge, publication expected 2027.

Hamilton, E., P. Oleksik, 2024. Considerations in Acquisition of 3D-Printed Art. Journal of the American Institute for Conservation, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/01971360.2024.2379692

Rolfsmeyer, R., E. Hamilton, J.J. Chen, R. Ploeger, A. Shugar. 2024. “The Surrealist and the Saint: A Two Sculpture Journey into Marisol and the 1960s.” American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Objects Specialty Group Session, article included in session Postprints, Salt Lake City. 

Do, Bac-Vu, T.J. Smith, F. Beckett, E. Hamilton, J.J. Chen, A. Shugar, V.J. Chen. 2024. “Sắc Phong – A Preliminary Investigation of Vietnamese Imperial Proclamations. American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Book and Paper Specialty Group Session, article included in session Postprints, Salt Lake City. 

Hamilton, E., J. Sotek and S. Poletski. 2023. “Navigating Change and Safety with Mercury in an Installation by Rebecca Horn,” Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals. 19(2) 125-136. https://doi.org/10.1177/15501906231159035 

Brundrett, L., R. Ploeger, A. Shugar, J.J. Chen, E. Hamilton, T. Smith. "19th- Century Medical Saddlebag: An Analysis of the Medicinal Contents," Technart Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 2023. 

Cross, L., J..J. Chen, E. Hamilton, R. Ploeger, P. Ravines, A. Shugar. "The Technical Study and Conservation of “The Kiss II,” a Multiplex Hologram" American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Contemporary Art Session, Jacksonville, 2023.  

Guidera, S., F. Beckett, E. Hamilton. 2022. "Investigation into Consolidants for Reverse Glass Paintings." International Council of Museums, Committee for Conservation Interim Meeting for Glass and Ceramics Working Group. Recent Advances in Glass and Ceramics Conservation 6th Interim Meeting Preprints, 119-130.   

Blake-Howland, A., E. Hamilton, and G. E. Rayermann. “Analysis of Deteriorating 19th-Century Blue Glass Beads.” International Council of Museums, Committee for Conservation Interim Meeting for Glass and Ceramics Working Group. Recent Advances in Glass and Ceramics Conservation 6th Interim Meeting Poster Presentation, Lisbon, Portugal, 2022.