Arvi Wattel

Arvi Wattel is a Lecturer in Art History at the University of Western Australia's School of Design. He specializes in Renaissance Italy's peripheral cultural dynamics and Dutch encounters with Asia. His research explores Ferrarese patronage, the Batavia shipwreck's silver trade, and global art histories. Key roles include convenor of the 'Entangled Histories of Emotions in the Mediterranean World' cluster and collaboration on EU COST Action CA18140. He holds a Ph.D. from Radboud University Nijmegen and has held fellowships at Johns Hopkins University, the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florence, and others.

Research focuses on Ferrara's Renaissance identity through artists like Garofalo and the VOC's silver trade with Mughal India. His work bridges art, material culture, and maritime history, with interdisciplinary projects involving museums and institutions across Australia, Europe, and the Netherlands. Teaching includes courses on global art histories, curating First Nations art, and Baroque studies.

Notable grants include the Visualising Batavia Silverware project ($24k) and a 2019 UWA Research Collaboration Award. He received the UWA Student Guild's Students' Choice Award in 2019, reflecting his impactful teaching and research. His projects emphasize digital humanities, cultural heritage, and transnational collaboration.