AIA National Lecture with Dr. Fae Amiro, 4/14/2026
AIA National Lecture with Dr. Fae Amiro, 4/14/2026
The Department of the History of Art and Visual Studies at Cornell University prepares students to undertake journeys into visual culture through traditional areas of study such as ancient, Medieval and Renaissance art, as well as through the integration of recent fields of theory and research. Students explore the history of cultural interactions as manifested in visual culture both inside and outside the West, from antiquity to present.
Explore Academic Opportunities
Note on teaching during COVID in the Department of History of Art:
History of Art is a discipline that depends on the viewing and discussion of images. Due to technical constraints in many of our classrooms, faculty and instructors are often unable to project their lectures via Zoom in accompaniment to physical teaching. For the same reason, recording lectures for viewing later is also not always possible.
Students missing classes due to COVID precautions are advised to keep up with the syllabus, readings, and other Canvas and library resources available to them, so as not to fall behind during their physical absence from class.
Upcoming Events
Apr
07
Tuesday
04:45 PM
Life at Sardis, Before and After the Peace of Apamea
Goldwin Smith Hall
G22
Apr
07
Tuesday
06:00 PM
Art + Feminism 2026: Community Data Activism- Art, Feminism, & Us
Tompkins County Public Library
BorgWarner East
Apr
10
Friday
10:30 AM
Apr
10
Friday
04:45 PM
Apr
11
Saturday
10:00 AM
Apr
15
Wednesday
04:30 PM
Art + Feminism 2026: Data Feminism Panel
Olin Library
107
Apr
16
Thursday
05:15 PM
A Conversation with Alexis Rockman
Johnson Museum of Art
Robinson Lecture Hall
History of Art Majors' Society Exhibits:
From 1991 to 2018, the History of Art Majors’ Society (HAMS) provided a way for Cornell history of art majors to enhance their knowledge about the discipline of art history beyond the classroom. These students met at the Johnson Museum one evening each week throughout the academic year to develop an annual exhibition drawn from the permanent collection and to research, write, and publish an accompanying exhibition brochure.
Browse recent exhibits via the links below:
Department News
Nancy Lin to present at "Performing PostSocialism" at the University of Vienna, 4/9-4/10
Nancy Lin to present at "Performing PostSocialism" at the University of Vienna, 4/9-4/10
Jenna Marvin, PhD Candidate, Awarded Zhu Family Fellowship
Jenna Marvin, PhD Candidate, Awarded Zhu Family Fellowship
Donor’s fund enables dedicated humanities research
Jonathan Zhu, J.D. ’92, whose A.D. White Fellowship allowed him to attend Cornell, has established the Zhu Family Graduate Fellowships supporting humanities doctoral students at Cornell University. Each of the three 2025 fellows – who are pursuing art history, anthropology, and science and technology studies, appreciates that the fellowship’s financial support paired with release from teaching responsibilities allows them the flexibility to pursue research questions as they arise.
Admitted Class of 2030 seeks real-world impact
Cornell admits the Class of 2030 emphasizing real-world impact, enrolling 5,776 students from 102 countries.
At Cornell University, the diverse cohort reflects the land-grant mission and applied learning goals across multiple colleges.
Visual Culture Colloquium with Andrea Berlin 4/7/26
Visual Culture Colloquium with Andrea Berlin 4/7/26
Ben Anderson speaks at inaugural event for The Encounter Series, Columbia University
Ben Anderson speaks at inaugural event for The Encounter Series, Columbia University,
Nancy Lin to present in panel at University of Chicago, April 2-4
Nancy Lin to present in panel at University of Chicago, April 2-4