Kelli Wood

Kelli Wood is an Assistant Professor of Art History and Museum & Curatorial Studies at the School of Art, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her interdisciplinary research bridges art history, game studies, sports science, and museology, focusing on early modern visual culture, material culture trade, and the intersections between art, games, and sports. She holds a PhD from the University of Chicago (2016) and a BA from the University of Florida.

Wood’s research explores mimetic representations of play from the 16th century to modern digital platforms. Notable projects include studies on early modern board games, Goan material culture trade, and the global history of sports. She is currently developing a digital platform for historical board games through an NEH-Mellon Fellowship. Her curatorial work includes guest-curatorship for the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum’s permanent exhibit A Global History of Sport.

Wood’s academic awards include a Fulbright Fellowship, Kress Fellowship, and a National Endowment for the Humanities grant. She serves on committees for the Marco Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies and the UT Humanities Center, and is affiliated with organizations such as the College Art Association and the North American Society for Sport History.