Chris Balaschak

Chris Balaschak serves as the Kenan Distinguished Professor of Art History and Chair of the Visual Arts department at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida. His distinguished career encompasses both academic leadership and groundbreaking research in the intersections of photography, visual culture, and environmental studies.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Art History from University of California, Irvine
• M.F.A. from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena
• B.A. from New York University, New York

Research Focus: Professor Balaschak's scholarly work centers on the histories of photography, modern and contemporary art, and visual culture, with particular emphasis on how visual representations intersect with place-based politics, environmentalism, and high modernist social planning. His current research examines American photographers' responses to the environmental consequences of federal infrastructure throughout the 20th century.

Teaching Portfolio: He teaches a diverse range of courses including Art History II (Renaissance-Modernism), Art History III (Contemporary Art), Visual Culture, The Environmental Image, Modern Metropolis, Art & Environment, Race & Visual Culture, and History of Photography, among others.

Publications: His research output demonstrates a consistent focus on environmental themes in photography, with his 2021 monograph "The Image of Environmental Harm in American Social Documentary Photography" representing a significant contribution to the field. His work spans from examinations of Puerto Rican forestry photography to analyses of post-industrial Bay Area landscapes.

Previous Appointments: Before joining Flagler College, Professor Balaschak held teaching positions at California State University, Long Beach and University of California, Irvine.