Erin Benay

Erin Benay is an Associate Professor of Art History, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and Distinguished Scholar in the Public Humanities at Case Western Reserve University. She holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University (2009), an M.A. from Rutgers, and a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire. Her research focuses on Italian early modern visual culture (1400–1700), emphasizing object circulation, art collecting, and community-engaged scholarship. She co-founded Engaged Art History and directs the Graduate Certificate in Public Humanities and Civic Engagement at the Baker Nord Center.

• Education: Ph.D. Rutgers University (2009), M.A. Rutgers, B.A. University of New Hampshire.

Her work challenges Eurocentric narratives through studies like Italy by Way of India (2021), which explores transcontinental artistic exchanges. She co-leads Baroque Without Boundaries, a digital project redefining early modern art history, and Pressing Matters, a grant-funded initiative using printmaking for youth advocacy. Her community partnerships include LAND Studio and The Sculpture Center.

Recent articles and chapters address global art mobility, printmaking, and public humanities. Awards include the John S. Diekhoff Award for graduate teaching (2017) and grants from NEH and AIIS. She has curated exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art and will co-curate a Karamu House prints exhibition in 2024–25.

• Key Grants: Pressing Matters (Cleveland teen workshops), Samuel H. Kress Grant.
• Professional Roles: Curatorial experience at the Morgan Library and Zimmerli Museum.

Benay advocates for public humanities, blending academic rigor with community impact through exhibitions, digital projects, and collaborative research.