Christopher B. Steiner

Christopher B. Steiner serves as the Lucy C. McDannel '22 Professor of Art History and Anthropology at Connecticut College, where he has taught since 1997. He directs the Museum Studies Certificate Program and chairs the Department of Art History and Architectural Studies. His academic home spans interdisciplinary boundaries between art history, anthropology, and museum practice.

Steiner's research traverses provocative territories where canonical boundaries dissolve. He investigates vernacular photography through 15,000 vintage images in his personal collection, analyzes kitsch and 'bad' art emerging from cultural margins, and examines stereotypes in visual culture. His fieldwork in West Africa explores transnational art exchange, while his curatorial work champions offbeat museums and visionary artists like Elizabeth Tashjian.

Key scholarly contributions include the award-winning African Art in Transit (1994) and co-edited volumes like Unpacking Culture (1999) that reframe art market dynamics. Recent work focuses on photo postcards and souvenir photography, culminating in the 2022 MFA Boston catalog contribution.

• Mellon Foundation New Directions Fellowship (2023)
• Award for African Art in Transit

As a curator, Steiner has produced nine major exhibitions since 2004, including The Nut Museum series and Liberia, 1931-33, demonstrating sustained engagement with unconventional art forms. His leadership extends to directing Connecticut College's Museum Studies program, shaping pedagogy through courses on African art, photography history, and museum controversies while leveraging campus resources like the Chu-Griffis Asian Art Collection and Lyman Allyn Art Museum partnership.