Katharine Burnett

Katharine Burnett is a Professor of Art History, Chair of the Department of Art History, and Director of the Global Tea Initiative at the University of California, Davis. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, along with M.A. and B.A. degrees from Wellesley College. Her research focuses on Chinese art and visual culture from 1550 to the present, with special emphasis on art theory, politics, tea trade impacts, and material culture.

Her teaching covers Chinese art history from antiquity to modernity, including courses on painting, collecting practices, and global tea culture. Notable awards include the George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award (2017) and recognition as a leading tea educator (2019). She leads initiatives like the Global Tea Initiative, exploring tea’s cultural and scientific dimensions across Asia and beyond.

Her publications span scholarly articles on Ming and Qing art criticism, global art markets, and contemporary Chinese artists. Key themes include originality in art theory, transnational art exchanges, and the intersection of politics with visual culture.