Leana van der Merwe

Leana van der Merwe is a full-time Lecturer in Art History at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria. Her teaching responsibilities include various undergraduate art history modules, and she supervises MVA and MA (Art History) students. She holds a research focus on South African women’s literary and visual art, examining postcolonial and feminist themes through comparative and affective frameworks. Key interests include the intersection of race, class, and gender in postcolonial contexts, emphasizing multiplicity and hybridity in cultural expression.

Her research explores texts (literary and visual) by South African women, analyzing themes such as identity, decolonization, and socio-political dynamics. While no specific publications or awards are listed in the provided text, her work bridges literary and visual studies, advocating for interdisciplinary approaches to understanding gendered and racialized narratives in art.

In her supervisory role, van der Merwe guides students in mastering art history methodologies and critical perspectives. The text does not mention grants, labs, or teams, but her academic contributions center on fostering scholarly engagement with South African feminist cultural production.