Rice University Department of Art History

Summer course, HART 213, "Paris Through the Ages: From Gothic Grandeur to Modern Echoes" just concluded week 1 of 3 in Paris, France!

Over the remaining 2 weeks, Professor Denva Gallant will guide students through world-famous museums, and historical landmarks to study the artists who shaped one of the greatest cities in the world.

Wherever they are, students of art history make the world their classroom!

We had such a spectacular academic year and that is all because of YOU!

Thanks to everyone who made an impact in the department by attending our events, taking courses and just spreading the good HART word!

We would like to congratulate PhD candidate, Lynne Lee for two major milestones.

Firstly, Lynne has been awarded the Center for Teaching Excellence's Graduate Teaching Award for Independent Instruction. This award is given to a graduate student for their stellar instruction of an undergraduate course; leading with clarity, structure, and impact.

Furthermore, Lynne has also earned the prestigious 2026-27 Lodieska Stockbridge Vaughn Fellowship from the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Keep up the amazing work, Lynne!

Last week, we had the privilege of taking a little field trip to to get a tour of the Frida: The Making of an Icon exhibition with the brilliant, Arden Decker, Associate Director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas as our tour guide. This exhibition delivers a fresh perspective into Frida Kahlo's life by showcasing the work of generations of creatives. To this day, her unwavering authenticity and self-expression continues to inspire communities all the over the world.

We then toured Peter Bradley's "The De Luxe Show" led by Will Marsden, an art history undergraduate student who worked as an intern on the installation of the exhibit. It is always such a treat to see our students in action!

We highly encourage everyone to go out and see both exhibitions!!

We are so excited to present the final speaker for the 2026 Katherine Tsanoff Brown Lecture Series, Professor Lauren Cannady.

Her lecture, "The Limits of Early Modern Paper Gardens: Caspar Bauhin and Botanical Exigency" will dive into the various ways in which natural knowledge traveled in the early modern world, with an emphasis on garden catalogs or "paper gardens" and how they were used by Swiss botanist, Caspar Bauhin (1560-1624) to create Pinax theatri botanici.

•Reception to follow with light bites and drinks. RVSP through the link in our bio

•Free and open to the public, as always!

What better way to celebrate our owl's return from spring break than to get together outside (while the weather's still nice) with good food and ice cream!?

We loved chatting with you all at our fall course preview AND at the Humanities Hangout! Thanks for coming out, it was double the fun 😁

What do we love more than art history? Seeing our students visit some of the world's most renowned museums! Can you guess how many were visited during the HART spring break trip to NYC? Hint: it's more than you think!

The MoMa, Met, Frick Collection, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Morgan Library and Museum, the Whitney, the Guggenheim, and a few galleries in Chelsea. That makes 7!

Its the most wonderful time of the year (course preview time)! Please join us on March 23rd in HRG Courtyard, right across Brochstein, for our fall course preview lunch. Yes, that's right, free lunch!

This year, we will be giving away t-shirts, water bottles, tote bags, stickers, and so much more I can't contain my excitement! We can't wait to show you our new courses, chat with professors, & play some games 😌

Set a reminder now, so you don't forget!

The Department of Art History is now accepting applications for our 2026-2027 fellowship opportunities!

All Rice University majors and minors in good academic standing are welcome to apply. *Applicants must exhibit an interest in art history, history, or museum studies.

For more information and to apply, visit the link in our bio.

Join us next Monday as we welcome Professor William E. Wallace as the next speaker in the KTB Lecture Series. With a PhD in art history from Columbia University, Dr. Wallace is an internationally recognized expert on Michelangelo and the author of 9 books, including "Michelangelo, God's Architect" placed on the Washington Post's Cultural To-Do List as "a riveting experience for art lovers of any art form".

His talk, "Michelangelo & Titian: A Tale of Titans" will dive into his latest book detailing the intertwined lives of Michelangelo and Titian. Despite their many similarities, the artists would strangely only meet twice in their lifetime.

•Free & open to the public
•Reception to follow with light bites & drinks

For more information and to RSVP, please visit the link in our bio.