Ken George

Ken George is a Professor of Anthropology at the Australian National University (ANU), leading the School of Culture, History & Language. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Michigan (1989) and has held academic positions at institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Harvard University, and the University of Oregon. His research focuses on visual and material culture, ethnography of everyday life, ethics, religion, technology, and art in South and Southeast Asia. He has been awarded prestigious fellowships, including the Guggenheim and Guggenheim Foundation, and has co-authored influential books such as Picturing Islam (2010) and Spirited Politics (2005).

George’s recent work explores the intersections of Hinduism, Buddhism, artisanship, and technology in India, supported by grants from the Australian Research Council and the American Institute of Indian Studies. His research on Islamic art and public spheres in Indonesia has been widely recognized, and he has organized conferences on topics like ‘Religion at Work’ and ‘Culture and Infrastructure.’

• Key Awards: Guggenheim Fellowship (2003), NEH Fellowships (2008, 1996), Aga Khan Trust Fellowship (1993)
• Grants: ARC Discovery Award (2017–2020), Fulbright-Nehru Award (2017–2018)

His articles span themes like ‘Vishwakarma Worship’ in India, the ethics of art objects, and the theopolitics of Qur’anic art. He has served on editorial boards of journals like American Ethnologist and Journal of Asian Studies.