Thomas Girst (b. 1971), PhD, studied art history and literature at Hamburg University and New York University on a DAAD Scholarship. Cultural correspondent for the German daily Tageszeitung (2003-1999), ongoing contributions in international publications, scholarly journals on modern and contemporary art, culture and business. Founding editor of the international literature and art anthology Die Aussenseite des Elementes (2003-1991). Between 1998 and 2003 he was research manager of the New York-based Art Science Research Laboratory under the directorship of Harvard professor Stephen Jay Gould.

Since 2003, he is global Head of Cultural Engagement at the BMW Group. Girst teaches at academies and universities throughout Europe.  Between 2005 and 2009 he was a member of the Board for Arts Sponsorship within the Association of Arts and Culture of the German Economy at the Federation of German Industries, and since 2010 he sits on their panel for literature. He is a member of the Board of Spielmotor e.V. as well as for the Association of the Architecture Museum, Munich. Since 2012, Girst is cultural representative for the Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory. Since 2015, he is a member of the Council of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Munich and a member of the board of trustees of the Friends of Haus der Kunst, Munich. In 2016 he was appointed member of the advisory board for Sky Arts. In 2017, he joined The Indian Biennale Effects and Ecosystems Advisory Board.

Latest publications include The Indefinite Duchamp (2013), The Duchamp Dictionary (2014) BMW Art Cars (2014), Art, Literature, and the Japanese American Internment (2015) and 100 Secrets of the Art World (2016).