Rachel Smith

Rachel Smith is Professor of Art and Gilkison Chair in the Art, Film & Media Department at Taylor University, where she has served since transitioning from Ohio University’s School of Comparative Arts. An active leader in academic communities, she co-founded the Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art (ASCHA) in 2010 and currently serves as its President (2017–present).

Her educational foundation includes:

• PhD in Art History from Indiana University
• MA in Art History from Michigan State University
• BA in Art History from Michigan State University

Dr. Smith’s research centers on art history and criticism, interdisciplinary humanities, and international intercultural studies, with a distinctive focus on Christianity’s intersection with global artistic traditions. She has directed major traveling exhibitions for the Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity across Indonesia (2008–2012), South Africa (2013–2018), and China (2018–2023), exploring spiritual expression in diverse cultural contexts through curation and scholarly analysis.

Her publications reveal a cohesive trajectory examining spirituality in art across historical and geographical boundaries—from medieval cathedrals to contemporary installations. Recent work emphasizes cross-cultural dialogues, particularly between Western and non-Western traditions, and art’s role in fostering intercultural understanding amid secularization.

Her scholarly impact is recognized through:

• 2019 Boevé Art Education Award from Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA)
• 2010 Franklin W. and Joan M. Forman Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award from Taylor University

Dr. Smith integrates scholarship with mentorship, leading Honors freshmen on international courses in South Africa and China focused on Arts and Ideas. Her exhibition projects, often involving multi-institutional collaborations, demonstrate sustained grant acquisition and management expertise in interdisciplinary arts programming.

As Project Director for the Nagel Institute’s global exhibitions and ASCHA leader, she cultivates networks connecting academic, religious, and cultural institutions worldwide, advancing intercultural dialogue through art.