Esther Gabara

Esther Gabara is a Professor of Romance Studies, Art, Art History & Visual Studies, and Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies at Duke University. She serves as Chair of Romance Studies and holds affiliations in multiple departments. Her research focuses on modern/contemporary art, critical theory, and Latin American cultural studies. She curated the Pop América exhibition (2018-2020), awarded the Sotheby’s Prize, and authored Non-Literary Fiction (2022) and Errant Modernism (2008).

Education: Ph.D. (2001), M.A. (1997) from Stanford University; B.A. (1993) from University of Pennsylvania.

Research Interests: Visual studies, photography, Pop Art, feminism, coloniality, and transnational art histories. Recent projects include studying Spain’s role in promoting Latin American art and analyzing neoliberalism’s impact on art practices. Her work bridges art theory, critical race studies, and museum studies.

Awards: Mellon-funded Global Brazil Lab (2014), E. Blake Byrne Professorship (2012), Fulbright Scholarship (2004).

Grants & Service: Co-directed Mellon-funded Global Brazil Lab. Taught courses on visual studies, photography in the Americas, and Latin American literature. Active in academic committees and international exhibitions.