About
Professor Jay Johnston is an Honorary Professor in Gender and Cultural Studies at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Their interdisciplinary work bridges religious studies, wildlife conservation, and environmental humanities. They hold degrees including a PhD and multiple master's qualifications, and are a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (FAHA).
Research focuses on intersections of religion, art, and philosophy, particularly material culture, ethics/aesthetics, and new materialism. Current projects explore multispecies justice, esoteric aesthetics, and heritage studies through publications like Amulets in Magical Practice (Cambridge 2024) and Stag and Stone (Equinox 2021). Active in research networks including the Sydney Environment Institute and Charles Perkins Centre.
Recent grants include the 2022 'Wild and Woolly' project examining St. Blaise's iconography. Publications span 13 books/edited volumes and 40+ journal articles/chapters. Their work engages with Norse/Scandinavian studies, curatorial practices, and animal studies.
