News

Professor Jennifer Johung appointed Director of Center for 21st Century Studies

We are delighted to announce that our own Professor Jennifer Johung has been appointed the new director of the Center for 21st Century Studies. A very big congratulations!

Professor Kay Wells mentioned in the Atlantic Magazine!

Media mentions regarding the appeal of minatures: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/miniature-art-museums-thorne-rooms-bonsais/678133/ https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/why-miniatures-inspire-such-awe/ar-AA1nlGay https://newyorkfolk.com/news/why-miniatures-inspire-such-awe/

Art Exposé Gallery Talk – April 9, 2024

Art Expose Spring 2024

The Art Exposé are 15-minute presentations in which Gallery Staff, Faculty, or Gallery Interns discuss a mystery art object in the gallery collection. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the results of object-based learning and support our gallery team. Plus, you may see something new and exciting you never knew we had!

Tuesday April 9th – Morgan Moore, Mathis Gallery Graduate Curatorial Intern will present at 1pm in the Mathis Gallery.

John Stiff American Coverlet

John Stiff American Coverlet Object #: 2019.005.16 Carly Neil, Mathis Art Gallery Graduate Student Intern Fall 2023 This coverlet was accessioned into the Mathis Gallery collection in 2019. It was woven in 1843 by John Stiff in Milford, Pennsylvania. It… Read More

Robo-Buddhism: Kokoro, Technology, and Spirituality in Japan Today

Wednesday, April 10 2024 4pm

Lubar S151

Public lecture by Dr. Jennifer Robertston, Professor emerita, Departments of Anthropology and Art History, Michigan State University

Kokoro (心) is widely and innovatively used in everyday parlance and figures in many Japanese idioms. Kokoro connotes intellectual, emotional, and spiritual states and attributes. Kokoro is also a key lexeme in Japan’s two main religions: the animistic native Shintō and Buddhism. In August 2017, SoftBank’s humanoid robot Pepper role-played as a Buddhist priest at a funeral services expo under the supervision of a human priest who assessed whether the robot was able perform “with kokoro.” When theorizing human-robot interactions, roboticists also include kokoro as a crucial quality and effect of social engagement. Kokoro figures centrally in the titles of several Japanese books on robots and AI. Several cognitive roboticists are working to “imagineer” (imagine + engineer) robot kokoro through innovative software algorithms and creative interpretations of AI. Pepper was conceived as a humanoid robot “with kokoro.” Technology and robots have been developed and applied for both secular and religious purposes, although the appropriation of robotic technologies and AI for religious purposes is perhaps less recognized than their secular applications. This presentation explores how religious technologies and affective human-robot relations are conjointly imagineered theoretically and in practice.

Glass from the Past: An Ancient Roman Amphoriskos in the UWM Art Collection

Katie Batagianis In the ancient Roman world, glass was ubiquitous.  It was used to create jewelry and other ornaments, to form the designs in floor mosaics, and to insulate the famed Roman baths.[1]  It was also an extremely popular material… Read More

Article Features Art History Student Maggie Kennedy

UWM student’s research explores the human mind, World History Magazine Read article

Graduate Student Mirel Crumb Presents at SECAC 2023

Mirel Crumb visiting the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, VA, during SECAC 2023

Graduate student Mirel Crumb recently presented her ongoing thesis research at SECAC 2023. SECAC is an academic conference that brings together art historians, art educators, museum professionals, and artists. This year’s conference had the theme of Crossroads and was held… Read More

Friends of Art History Meet and Greet

Wednesday, November 15 2023 11:30am - 12:30pm

Mitchell 159

You are invited on Wednesday, November 15 from 11:30am to 12:30pm for an Art History meet and greet in Mitchell Hall 159!

Dear Friends of Art History and Auditors,

Join fellow art lovers and Art History faculty and staff members to learn more about the UWM Art Collection over snacks and coffee. Our Collection and Gallery Director David Pacifico and Academic Curator Leigh Mahlik will be sharing exciting news on recent gifts from our generous donors. We will also discuss plans for the Friends of Art History (FOAH) support group and ways to promote and sustain our programming, including the unveiling of our renewed “Adopt Art” program. If you’re an auditor but not yet an official “Friend,” we would love for you to come and learn more! Information on supporting FOAH is also available here.

Please RSVP by November 13 to arthistory@uwm.edu.

We look forward to seeing you!

Beauty’s Mirror

Fitzgerald's Beauty's Mirror

Emma Alburg Beauty’s Mirror is an intriguing but simple piece. Created by Karen Fitzgerald, a Wisconsin born artist, in 1992, this tondo stands out amongst the many other pieces in the Emile H. Mathis Gallery collection. While working as an… Read More