معرفی
John Lopez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art History at the University of California, Davis, appointed in 2017. His work bridges the fields of art, architecture, and urban history, with a focus on the transatlantic connections between early modern Europe and the Americas, particularly in the context of colonial Mexico City.
- Ph.D., History, Theory, and Criticism of Architecture and Art, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- M.Arch., University of Oregon, Eugene
- M.A., University of Oregon, Eugene
- B.Arch., University of Oregon, Eugene
His research explores visual and spatial practices, especially in relation to water management, urban transformation, and indigenous responses to colonization. He examines how image-making and cartography were used to control and represent environmental change. His interdisciplinary approach draws from art history, architectural history, ethnohistory, and environmental studies.
López’s publications reveal a consistent engagement with the history of urbanism and cartography in Latin America, particularly in Mexico City. His work highlights the intersections of European engineering, indigenous knowledge, and colonial governance in shaping urban landscapes. Themes of flooding, drainage, and spatial memory recur throughout his recent articles and book projects.
His scholarly contributions have been recognized and supported by leading institutions including:
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- John Carter Brown Library
- Newberry Library
- Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection
- Social Science Research Council
- Academic Council of Learned Society
López has mentored research and co-edited special issues, though no formal advisees are currently listed. His current book project, The Aquatic Metropolis, is a major contribution to the understanding of environmental planning in colonial contexts. He teaches courses on Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Latin American art and architecture, and leads seminars on the visual culture of Latin America and the legacy of pre-Columbian art. He is actively involved in collaborative research and publication, particularly with scholars such as Alexander Hidalgo and Luis Gordo Peláez.
He is affiliated with the Art History program at UC Davis and contributes to the broader academic community through editorial work and participation in scholarly networks. His office is located in Everson Hall, and he is accessible via email at jlop@ucdavis.edu.
