Leah Clark

Leah Clark is an Associate Professor in Art History at the University of Oxford's Department for Continuing Education and a Fellow of Kellogg College. Her research centers on transcultural object mobility in early modern courts, with expertise in Renaissance Italy's exchanges with Islamic worlds.

Dr. Clark's academic foundation includes:

• DPhil from McGill University, Montréal
• MA from University of London
• BA (Hons) from University of British Columbia

Her scholarship examines how art objects functioned as mediators across cultural boundaries, focusing on sensorial experiences, diplomatic gift-giving, and collecting practices in courts like Ferrara and Naples. She investigates how transcultural encounters shaped cosmopolitan identities through material exchanges involving porcelain, metalware, and ceramics, revealing complex networks of intermediaries and sensory engagement.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2018-2023) reveals consistent exploration of object mobility within global frameworks. Key trends include reframing Aragonese Naples as an international hub, analyzing thresholds in cultural exchange, and developing new methodologies for studying transcultural objects. Her work increasingly integrates digital humanities approaches to sensory heritage, with growing emphasis on China-Europe connections alongside Mediterranean networks.

Dr. Clark's recognition includes:

• Shortlisting for Times Higher Education Award (2019) for Open Arts Objects

She leads significant collaborative initiatives advancing art history education and research:

• Founder of Open Arts Objects (free educational films for school art history)
• Co-organizer of Early Modern Sensory Experiences (EMSE) annual conference
• Convenor of Digital Humanities and Sensory Heritage (DHSH) network

These projects form interconnected research ecosystems fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between art history, musicology, and digital heritage, with Kellogg College serving as the institutional anchor for her sensory studies consortium.