Julia Sapin

Julia Sapin is a Professor of Art History at Western Washington University's Department of Art and Art History, within the College of Fine and Performing Arts. She holds a BA from the University of Texas, and MA and PhD from the University of Washington. Her research focuses on Meiji-period (1868-1912) Japanese visual culture, with specialties in textiles, painting, and department-store advertising. She has curated exhibits like 'Silk for Suffragettes and Schoolchildren' at the Whatcom Museum, exploring kimono-inspired fashions in early 20th-century America. Sapin organizes biannual student field programs to Japan since 2008, blending academic research with cultural immersion. Her current research examines kimono exports to Europe and the U.S., analyzing their social and sartorial impacts. Her work bridges art history with cross-cultural exchange studies.