Finley Cowlishaw ’19: Inserting drag into art history

Finley Cowlishaw ’19 discovered a love for art and gender studies at Cornell, which has fueled a long-lasting desire to use research to change art history.

Cowlishaw’s interest in the presence of drag in art history began during their years at Cornell when they crafted their senior thesis under the supervision of Professor of Art History Christina Penn-Goetsch. It focused on an artist named Deborah Kass, who has dressed in drag in several artworks. 

Four years later the research on the art form of drag continued during their master’s thesis work at the School of Art & Design at Northern Illinois University, where they graduated in May 2024. They started a Ph.D. program in art history this semester at Temple University. Cowlishaw said art historians are charged with structuring the narrative of art history, by compiling facts, information, and bias-free documentation of the history of art. 

“My research and career path is dedicated to reshaping the narratives presented in the history of art by reinserting marginalized and oppressed peoples and their cultural and artistic contributions into the canon and addressing their impacts on the art world,” Cowlishaw said.

They added that drag is far more than simply theatrical displays of gender and should be given the same attention from academics as more privileged art forms such as sculpture and painting.

“When put in the context of the contemporary art world, one which usually fetishizes and devalues drag and queer artists, drag can operate as a tool to critique political, cultural, and historical institutions,” Cowlishaw said. 

For Cowlishaw, this research is important for personal reasons too. As a “queer and transgender kid growing up” they noticed a lack of positive representation and understanding from those around them.

 It was different for them at Cornell where, they say, a passion for political advocacy and inclusive approaches was learned through getting involved in student organizations such as [alliance], the Third Wave Resource Group, Gender Safe Space, and Phi Lambda Xi. These community-focused organizations inspired them to continue their research and bring these diverse perspectives and experiences into their future career.

 And this is only the beginning for Cowlishaw. They want to make a difference in their community and in the world, and this is how they’re doing it. 

“As a neurodivergent disabled queer and trans person, there are many times when I feel at a loss for how to help my community and change the state of our world for the better,” they said. “Pursuing this research has allowed me to advocate for my community in a way that is more accessible to me than on-the-ground advocacy often is, and it also offers others resources to educate themselves about drag and queer culture.”

They’ve learned a lot over the years and plan to continue their research to create change and expand the world of art history with a better understanding of drag and queer culture.