Dr Xa Sturgis

Magic, Art & Illusion

There will be a section of seats reserved at the very front of the nave for Festival Friends at this event. 

Festival Friend privileges include early booking and the best seats in the house! 

Do consider becoming a Friend – find out more about it here.

The Director of the Ashmolean Museum (who in another life was magician, The Great Xa) explores the way in which artists across the centuries have sought to play with perception and illusion to fool the viewer and the tricks and techniques that they have used to do so.

Xa Sturgis has been Director of the Ashmolean Museum since 2014.

Before taking up his current post he was Director of the Holburne Museum, Bath (2005-2014) where he oversaw the Museum’s major renovation and extension.

From 1990 to 2005 he worked at the National Gallery in a number of roles including Exhibitions and Programmes Curator.

Among the exhibitions he has curated and his publications are: Telling Time (NG, 2000); Bill Viola, the Passions (NG, 2003/4) Rebels and Martyrs, The Image of the
Artist in the 19th century (NG, 2006) Presence, The Art of Portrait Sculpture (Holburne, 2012) and Jeff Koons at the Ashmolean (Ashmolean, 2019)
Xa was appointed Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the King’s Birthday’s Honours 2024 for his services to culture.

If you need disabled parking or access do contact them here with your requirements – they’d love to help you!