Patricia H. and Richard E. Garman Art Conservation Department

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:

• E. Hamilton, 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. 

• S. Guidera, 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. 

• Blake-Howland, A., G. E. Rayermann, and E. Hamilton. "Comparing Early Twentieth Century Glass Manufacturers Using XRF." ICON Conference: Ceramics, Glass and Stained Glass, Poster Presentation, Bath, England, 2021. 

• E. Hamilton and M. Haidvogl, “Approaching the Challenge: Caring for 3D-printed Art and Design” TechFocus IV: Caring for 3D-printed Art, Virtual, 2021 

• E. Hamilton, “Acquiring 3D-printed Objects,” TechFocus IV: Caring for 3D-printed Art, Virtual, 2021 

• “Rapid Prototype Conservation: A Collaborative Approach,” with C. Richeson (presenter), American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, General Session, Uncasville, 2019 
   
• “Considerations of Patina, Historical Record, and Decision-Making in the Conservation of Jean (Hans) Arp’s Bronzes,” ‘The Nature of Arp’ Symposium, Nasher Sculpture Center, Dallas, 2018  
   
• “Reprinting as a Conservation Strategy: Collecting Additive Manufactured Works at SFMOMA,” ‘Future Talks: Visions. Innovations in Technology and Conservation of the Modern’ Conference; Die Neue Sammlung, article included in conference Postprints, Munich, 2017 
   
• “The Treatment and Installation of a Monumental Cedar Sculpture by Ursula von Rydingsvard,” American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Objects Specialty Group Session, article included in session Postprints, Montreal, 2017 
   
• “Issues in the Conservation of Contemporary Art,” WUDPAC Student’s Choice Lecture, Wilmington, 2017 |
   
• “Philosophical and Practical Considerations in the Installation, Re-treatment, and Storage of a Rubber Sculpture by Richard Serra,” American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, General Session, Miami, 2015 
   
• “Source Identification of Mesoamerican Obsidian using X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry,” with J. Ferguson, American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Poster, Miami, 2015 
   
• “Stable Isotope Analysis of the White Marble Sculptures from the Saint Louis Art Museum,” with L.A. Cakmak (presenter) and S. Pike,” Association for the Study of Marble and Other Stones in Antiquity XI Conference, Split, Croatia, 2015 
   
• “Negotiating Obsolescence in a Functional Media Sculpture: Nam June Paik’s Untitled (Piano),” American Institute for Conservation Annual Meeting, Poster, Indianapolis, 2013 
   
• “The Analysis and Treatment of Food Artifacts,” The Association for North American Graduate Programs in Conservation (ANAGPIC) Conference, University of Delaware, Wilmington, 2011