Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities
United Kingdom
fellow
Jéssica Hipolito
2025-2026
Home institution
Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO)
Country of origin (home institution)
Brazil
Discipline(s)
Arts and arts studies; Colonial and postcolonial history; Cultural studies; Humanities
Theme(s)
Cultural Studies; Education & Science; Human Rights; Identity; Inequalities, inclusion & Social Innovation; Post-colonialism; Visual Arts
Fellowship dates
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Biography
Jéssica Hipolito is a museologist, educator, and researcher from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a PhD in Social Memory. Her work focuses on Black narratives in cultural heritage spaces and on anti-racist strategies within memory institutions to promote social equity. Jessica’s research addresses the underrepresentation of Black communities in museums and exhibitions, advancing anti-racist practices through innovative educational and cultural work. She is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at IASH, University of Edinburgh, supported by the Stuart Hall Foundation Fellowship, exploring restitution and reparation processes for colonial collections in Brazil, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Research Project
Colonial Collections, Repatriation, and Restitution: Processes and Strategies for Reparation in the Black Atlantic
This project investigates strategies of restitution and reparation for colonial collections in museums in Brazil, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. These efforts go beyond financial or material compensation, aiming to restore human dignity, reconnect communities with their histories, and challenge colonial narratives embedded within museums and collections. The research also maps antiracist curatorial practices that reinterpret these collections, fostering inclusion through decolonial and counter-colonial approaches.
Research Interests:
Cultural heritage; education; museums studies