The Institute for Expanded Research (IER) activates sites and leverages resources to produce and present projects in collaboration with artists.

Nebulous and flexible, IER is a constellation of practices and projects taking many forms. As an artist project and research initiative, IER builds partnerships to support artist-led inquiry and explore the potential for dialogue and collaboration across sectors. IER invites artists, researchers, and other practitioners to share ideas, strategies, skills, and creative work with the ultimate aim of exploring the role artists play in society by giving proximity to their thinking and working processes.

IER was founded by Lu Zhang, a multi-disciplinary artist who works in installation, sculpture, drawing, and text – often in response to a chosen site.