Art History at American University

05/22/2026

Congratulations to our Art History graduates! 💙🦅🎓

After so many years of hard work, we are proud to celebrate the graduation of the 2026 classes of art historians. AU Art History looks forward to seeing how these graduates will change our field and the world with their degrees!

To each graduating art historian, you always have a home and community with American University Art History department. Go Eagles and congratulations! 🦅💫🖼️

05/13/2026

Student Spotlight! 💫🦅

The end of Spring semester brought many reasons to celebrate our students, including the induction of Katelyn and Aidan into AU’s chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. Both graduating seniors of AU Art History, Katelyn and Aidan join 250 years of students within the liberal arts recognized for their scholastic excellence!

Congratulations to you both, the AU Art History department is proud of our role in empowering leaders in the arts and higher education. 🎓💫💙

04/30/2026

Moving to DC to attend AU for graduate school? The District and neighboring parts of Maryland and Virginia have tons of distinct, vibrant, and convenient neighborhoods.

See the link in our bio for a detailed guide to off campus housing and neighborhoods or reach out to to have your questions answered. DM us to get connected with a current student and learn more about their experiences.

DC is a great place to call home! 🦅🏠🏢

04/28/2026

Congratulations to our recent alums entering Art History Ph.D. programs next fall. We can’t wait to see what new frontiers they explore in the field!

Claudia Watts (AU MA ’23) will be attending UCLA’s PhD Program in the History of Art. Working with Assistant Professor Tiffany E. Barber, Claudia will continue to explore twentieth-century African-American art, travel and transnationalism, and Surrealisms—topics that informed her masters thesis at AU. At the nomination of UCLA’s Department of Art History, her studies will be supported by a Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship.

Hannah Karkari (AU MA ’23) will be attending Ohio State University’s PhD Program in the History of Art. She will work with Associate Professor Namiko Kunimoto and continue her research on modern Japanese art, focusing on the representation of women’s cross-dressing, a topic she began in her MA capstone at AU. Hannah is awarded a four-year fellowship for her studies at OSU.

Lucas Field (AU MA ‘25) will be attending Stony Brook University’s PhD Program in the History of Art. He will work with Associate Professor Karen Lloyd to study theology and patronage in Baroque art.

04/23/2026

Thanks again to the distinguished alumni panel at our Art History Careers Night!

It was wonderful to see the breadth of career paths that are open to art history students and hear how the skills and experience that they build through the program prepared them to thrive in their roles. Helpful and inspiring! 💫🦅💙

Thank you Austin Caudill, Caitlin Hoerr, Ben Jessee, Margaux Newell, Aly Schuman, Claudia Watts, and Elizabeth Weber!

04/22/2026

As the end of the semester approaches, the American University Art History Department would like to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our 2026 Master’s cohort. Their final capstone projects represent the culmination of exhaustive research, rigorous inquiry, and a deep passion for art history. These scholars are making vital contributions to the field, and we invite you swipe and explore their research!

04/11/2026

Out of the classroom and in the Big Apple! 🍎🚕🗽

AU Art History traveled to NYC last month as a part of Dr. Allen’s Medieval Art: Confronting Otherness site visit. Taking advantage of the medieval collections of , students explored special exhibition, “Spectrum of Desire,” and the Cloisters’ permanent galleries as they connected course materials to in-person engagement.

As the Spring 2026 semester comes to a close, AU Art History is grateful for the opportunities set up by our faculty that give students the opportunities to learn through practical application of our course subjects!

Check out our “In the Field” highlight on our profile for more examples of art history taking our students beyond the classroom! 🦅💙💫🧑‍🎨

04/10/2026

2026 Capstone Projects

As the end of the semester approaches, the American University Art History Department would like to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our 2026 Master's cohort. Their final capstone projects represent the culmination of exhaustive research, rigorous inquiry, and a deep passion for art history. These scholars are making vital contributions to the field and we invite you to scroll down to explore their research!...

As the end of the semester approaches, the American University Art History Department would like to recognize the extraordinary achievements of our 2026 Master’s cohort. Their final capstone …

04/09/2026

It’s a busy time of the semester, but it’s always worth pausing to enjoy the talents of our neighbors in the music program. Every day at Katzen Arts Center brings pleasant surprises. Twenty minutes of Dvořák over lunch and we’re ready to get back to studying. Brought to you by the Student Chamber Ensemble and the AU Music Library.

04/08/2026

We’re highlighting some of the exciting classes taking place in the Art History department during the Fall 2026 semester!

Our curriculum this fall is designed to challenge your perspective and deepen your understanding of visual culture. Swipe through to explore our 300, 400, and 600-level seminars, featuring:
* ARTH-496/696: Renaissance Rivalries with Dr. Butler-Wingfield
* ARTH-425/625: How Art Became Modern in China with Dr. Peng
* ARTH-432/632: U.S. Art: Civil War to Civil Rights with Dr. Elder
* ARTH-386: S*x and Gender in Northern Renaissance Art with Dr. Wu
* ARTH-412/612: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism with Dr. Bellow
* ARTH-400: Approaches to Art History with Dr. Sadow

Looking for 100 or 200-level courses? We have a full slate of foundational classes including Ethics of Art Museums, Buddhist Arts of Asia, and Washington DC Architecture!

Registration is now open and we look forward to seeing you in class next semester!

04/08/2026

Congratulations to Aidan Dowell and Alyosha Vak on presenting their research at the SUHY New Paltz Undergraduate Symposium in Art History! 🧑‍🎨💫💙🦅

As an example of the amazing work of AU’s undergraduate Art History students, Aidan and Alyosha showcase their hard work and dedication to expanding the field of art history.

Tune in to the symposium this week and support our Eagle Art Historians! 📸🎉🎨