The Institute of Art and Art History at the University of Duisburg-Essen is characterized by the close interaction between Art, Art History and Art Didactics. This distinct constellation is reflected in the specific profiles of the teaching staff as well as in the teaching profile and course content. Theory and practice come together in the artistic workshops (conceptual art, painting, graphics, photography, new media), in curated annual exhibitions, in workshop discussions, joint excursions, workshops and student conferences. Consequently, a number of research and exhibition projects have already emerged from the interdisciplinary focal points of the institute - "Artistic Research", "Transculturality" and "Media-related Image Studies".

The Institute has originally been part of an independent Faculty of Art and Design, with a focus on practical design studies. Following the transfer of these design programs to the Folkwang University of the Arts, our newly structured Institute of Art and Art History was integrated into the Faculty of Humanities. The Institute was given a new profile by the integration of Conceptual Media and Painting Art Studies within the teacher training courses, as well as by the establishment of a specific program of Art History courses. The former collaboration with the Design Studies resulted in the cooperative Master's degree course in Art and Design Studies, which is run jointly with the Folkwang University of the Arts.

Thanks to its broad and established network with museums and cultural institutions in the Ruhr region and NRW, including the KWI Essen, the Museum Folkwang and numerous other modern museums in the region and in neighboring cities (including the Lehmbruck Museum Duisburg, Situation Kunst in Bochum, K20/K21 in Düsseldorf, Museum Ludwig Cologne), students are given a variety of opportunities for practical professional insights and perspectives. In addition to the compulsory internships anchored in the curriculum, which repeatedly take students to the aforementioned institutions, curators are also regularly involved in teaching as lecturers.