Jose Miguel Lopez Castillo

Jose Miguel Lopez Castillo is a Professor in the Department of History of Art at the University of Murcia, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. He holds a doctoral degree from the same institution, completing his thesis on the construction of Murcian regional identity during Spain's Restoration era. His research focuses on cultural identity, historical material culture, and the intersection of art with regional narratives. Key areas include the analysis of ephemera (e.g., commercial labels), convent heritage, fashion history, and architectural transformations. He has contributed to academic conferences like the XXIII National Congress of Art History and co-authored works on Murcian cultural representation. His recent publications address topics such as the decline of monastic complexes, jewelry in mourning practices, and the Baroque interventions in regional churches. Lopez Castillo is part of research groups like 'Sumptuary Arts' and 'Twentieth Century Art: Image, Cinema, and Audiovisual Communication.'

Education: Doctorado en Historia del Arte, Universidad de Murcia (2023).

Research Interests: The study of Murcian cultural identity through visual and material culture, including commercial ephemera, religious architecture, and historical costume. His work bridges art history with social and political contexts, emphasizing how art reflects regional and national identities.

Recent Work Trends: Recent articles explore themes such as the preservation vs. abandonment of religious heritage, the role of jewelry in mourning rituals, and the depiction of regional landscapes in art. His upcoming projects include a conference on post-desamortization religious heritage management.

Awards: None explicitly listed in the provided texts.

Grants & Advising: Supervised doctoral work under Dr. Joaquín Cánovas Belchí. Active in collaborative research projects, including the study of Murcia's participation in the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition.

Labs/Teams: Member of the research groups 'Arts and Industrial Heritage' and 'Twentieth Century Art,' focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to cultural patrimony.