Jacques Schuhmacher

As executive director of provenance research, Jacques Schuhmacher oversees the study of the histories of ownership behind the Art Institute’s global collection. By tracing each object’s provenance, his team deepens understanding of the works themselves, the people who valued them, and the societies through which they moved. This research links Chicago to global histories and informs wider conversations about art collecting, international collaboration, cultural exchange, and the role of museums in the 21st century.

Schuhmacher is committed to sharing the stories behind the Art Institute’s objects with audiences in Chicago and beyond. He frequently lectures at universities and museums across North America and Europe and has contributed his expertise to numerous museum-sector working groups. Before joining the Art Institute, he served as Senior Provenance Curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. He holds a doctorate in History from the University of Oxford.