Anna Grasskamp

Anna Grasskamp is a Professor of Art History at the University of Oslo, specializing in early modern to contemporary art, material culture, and transcultural exchange between Europe and Asia. She holds a PhD from Leiden University (2013) and previously taught at the University of St Andrews and Hong Kong Baptist University. Her research emphasizes ecological and material dimensions of art, focusing on objects, craftsmanship, and global networks. Grasskamp leads the ERC-funded project 'An Ecological History of Eurasian Art' and has curated exhibitions on upcycling and maritime material culture in Hong Kong and Leipzig. She is editor for journals like SEHEPUNKTE and Nuncius.

Research Interests: Her work bridges art history, ecology, and material studies, exploring how natural resources and aesthetic practices shaped early modern globalization. Key themes include maritime objects, coral artifacts, transcultural collecting, and sustainable design strategies in Asian crafts. Her 2021 book Art and Ocean Objects of Early Modern Eurasia analyzes shells, bodies, and materiality in transcontinental contexts.

Publications & Awards: Recent articles engage with Sino-Japanese woodcut print relations, Ming Dynasty coral symbolism, and European re-framings of Chinese ceramics. Awards include the 2022 Golden Dandelion Seed Award for innovative curriculum design and the 2020 Hong Kong Baptist University Performance Award. Her work has been supported by institutions like the Max Planck Institute and Leiden University.

Grants & Projects: Co-led Hong Kong Research Grants Council projects on upcycling in Pearl River Delta jewelry design (2020–2022) and maritime material culture (2018–2020). Current ERC project investigates ecological dimensions of Eurasian art through natural resource flows and material practices.

Teaching & Mentorship: Develops courses like 'Art and Ecology' and co-teaches the PhD seminar 'De-Centering as Method.' Supervises doctoral students at Oslo and previously mentored researchers at St Andrews and Hong Kong Baptist University.