Steven Nelson

Steven Nelson is a Professor of African and African American Art and Director of the UCLA African Studies Center. He holds additional roles as Treasurer of the National Committee for the History of Art and a member of the Comité international d’histoire de l’art’s General Assembly. His editorial work includes contributions to Grove Art Online, Art Journal, and Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians.

His research focuses on African and diasporic art, architecture, and queer studies. His landmark book From Cameroon to Paris: Mousgoum Architecture In and Out of Africa (2007) has received multiple awards. His writings explore themes such as colonialism, memory, and cultural identity in journals like African Arts, Art Bulletin, and Politique Africaine.

Recent scholarly activities include lectures on African diaspora artists like Houston Conwill, Mark Bradford, and Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons. These talks analyze how artists interrogate historical narratives through installations that blend African symbolism, diasporic memory, and spatial politics.

• Awards: Multiple awards for his book (specific names unspecified in text)
• Fellowships: Numerous visiting appointments and fellowships (details unspecified)

He has advised no listed students and maintains no labs. His work bridges art history with critical race theory and postcolonial studies.