David Misteli

Dr. David Misteli is a Postdoc Researcher at the Institute of Art History within the Faculty of History and Cultural Studies at the University of Vienna. Previously, he held a Visiting Professor position at the Berlin University of the Arts and received an Early Postdoc.Mobility Fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. His academic journey includes a PhD from the University of Basel (2021) and research positions at multiple prestigious institutions including the University of Pennsylvania and the German Forum for Art History Paris.

• PhD in Art History, University of Basel (2021)
• MA in Art History and Image Theory, University of Basel (2014)
• Visiting Scholar, University of Pennsylvania (2018-2019)
• Visiting Fellow, German Forum for Art History Paris (2017-2019)

Misteli's research focuses on modern and contemporary art, particularly French painting of the 19th century, the history and theory of expression, form and subjectivity in modernity, and the interrelationships between painting and literature. His scholarly work reveals a deep engagement with Van Gogh's Paris period and the connections between visual art and literary forms, especially the novel from the 19th to early 20th century. His first book Van Gogh in Paris. Painting and Expression in Modernism (2024) reframes Van Gogh's work within the Parisian Avant-garde context.

His publication record shows consistent scholarly output with recent articles in Art History, Nineteenth-Century Art Worldwide, and exhibition catalogs from major institutions like the Kunstmuseum Basel. His work demonstrates a trajectory from classical art historical analysis toward increasingly theoretical explorations of expression, mediation, and form in visual culture.

• Faculty Prize from University of Basel (2022)
• Early Postdoc Mobility Fellowship (2021)
• Graduation scholarship from Voluntary Academic Society of Basel (2020)
• Doc.Mobility Fellowship (2017)

Misteli maintains an active teaching schedule across multiple institutions including the University of Vienna, Berlin University of the Arts, and previously at the University of Basel. His courses cover diverse topics from Van Gogh's letters to modern painting's relationship with colonialism, reflecting his broad scholarly interests. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the available materials, his fellowship history suggests strong research funding support. He also co-organizes academic conferences on modern art historiography and expression theory.