معرفی
John Szostak is an Associate Professor and Area Chair of Art History at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His research focuses on modern Japanese art history, particularly Nihonga (neotraditional painting), examining intersections of artistic identity, national heritage, and cultural tradition. He holds a PhD from the University of Washington and has conducted extensive research in Kyoto, supported by grants including the Japan Studies Endowment and the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellowship (2010). His work includes a 2013 monograph on Kyoto painter Tsuchida Bakusen and translations of Japanese modern art documents (1860s-1940s). He curates exhibitions such as one on historicism and tradition in contemporary Japanese art (UH Manoa, 2016).
Education:
- PhD, University of Washington
- MA, University of Washington
- BA, Colgate University
Research interests emphasize technical and ideological aspects of Nihonga, with recent projects exploring modernist Buddhist painting and Japanese woodblock prints. His publications span academic journals, exhibition catalogs, and edited volumes, addressing topics like the Kokuga Society, Neo-Rinpa style, and grotesque aesthetics in modern Japanese art.
Awards include the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Fellowship (2010), supporting post-doctoral research at SOAS, University of London. His teaching spans global art history surveys, specialized courses on Japanese art (Buddhist art, modernity, woodblock prints), and seminars on topics like the Mingei Movement and Japanese cinema.
Current initiatives include a translation project of Japanese modern art sources and curation of exhibitions linking traditional and contemporary Japanese artistic practices.
