Erik Thunø

Erik Thunø is a Professor at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, specializing in medieval art history with a focus on Late Antique, Byzantine, and Italian art. His research emphasizes early medieval visual culture, particularly in Italy and the South Caucasus (Georgia), integrating object-based analysis with theoretical frameworks. He holds a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University.

Research Interests: His work explores the interplay between images and liturgical contexts, the cult of relics, and global medieval art histories. Current projects include studies on religious imagery in early Christian Georgia and Carolingian art. Recent publications include The Apse Mosaic in Early Medieval Rome (2015) and co-edited volumes on the South Caucasus and medieval altars.

Key Awards: Includes the Novo Nordisk Guest Professorship (2021-22), Richard Krautheimer Professorship (2014-15), and Millard Meiss Award (2014). He serves on editorial boards for journals like Georgian Antiquities and leads the Euro-funded Conques in a Global World project (€1M).

Teaching: Undergraduate courses include Carolingian art, Romanesque/Gothic architecture, and Rome's medieval art. Graduate seminars focus on medieval image theory, Roman mosaics, and Georgian visual cultures.