Jonathan Hay

Jonathan Hay is the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Professor of Fine Arts at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. He holds a PhD from Yale University (1989) and a B.A. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1978). His research focuses on Chinese art history, emphasizing interconnections between artistic practices, visual culture, and broader socio-political contexts. Key areas include late-imperial China, decorative arts, and the integration of non-Western perspectives into art historical discourse.

Education:

• PhD, Art History, Yale University, 1989
• B.A., School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 1978

Hay’s work challenges traditional Eurocentric methodologies, advocating for dialogue with scientific thought and non-Western traditions. His books include Shitao: Painting and Modernity in Early Qing China (2001) and Sensuous Surfaces: The Decorative Object in Early Modern China (2010, supported by a Guggenheim Fellowship). He has received awards such as the Guggenheim Fellowship and a prizewinning contribution to The Artful Recluse catalog.

Research Interests: Complexity in art history, cross-cultural exchanges, macrohistorical frameworks, Ming-Qing trauma studies, and the role of ornament in decorative arts.

Hay leads initiatives like the IFA Portals digital project, including the Historiography and Chinese Pictorial Art portals. He also co-founded the China Project Workshop, fostering dynamic discussions on Chinese art.

Awards:

• Guggenheim Fellowship (for Sensuous Surfaces)
• Prize for The Artful Recluse: Painting, Poetry, and Politics in 17th Century China catalog

His current projects include a monograph on 10th-century artist Guo Zhongshu and a theoretical work ARTWORK: Topologies of Artistic Form.