Ace is an interdisciplinary scholar specializing in a critical engagement with identity and representation; history, theory, and criticism of contemporary art; visual studies; photography theory, queer and trans theory and issues of representation. Ace is doing particularly innovative work in the underrepresented arena of trans visual culture. They have an impressive publication record, which includes a recent book review published in the College Art Association's Art Journal, on Alpesh Patel's book Productive failure: Writing queer transnational South Asian art histories. Ace is also completing their first book, an edited volume entitled Self-Representation in an Expanded Field From Self-Portraiture to Selfie, Contemporary Art in the Social Media Age (MDPI). Lehner was a 2019-20 Presidents’ Dissertation Year Fellow at UCSC and is the 2020 recipient of the College Art Association Professional Development Fellowship. Ace is also developing a special issue of CAA's Art Journal on trans visual culture.