Overview
Clayton Beasley is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies at Duke University. He earned an M.A. in Liberal Studies with a focus in Zoo Studies (2025) and a B.S.I. in Animal Science (2023) from Coastal Carolina University.
His research examines the visual and architectural dimensions of human and non-human animal relations within sites of captivity, with particular attention to the histories and global development of zoological gardens. His current work focuses on the architecture and material culture of the southern United States, situating zoological and agricultural livestock spaces within regional histories of land use, labor, and animal management.
His interests include the intersection of art and agricultural history; production and management practices; livestock periodicals and print media; multispecies performance; and questions of non-human agency and authorship. He is also interested in circus production and performance in Central Asia and the former Soviet Union, examined in relation to southern material culture and labor histories.
At Duke, he is also pursuing certifications in the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine, as well as College Teaching.