Martin Lešák

Martin Lešák is a Research Fellow at the Norwegian Institute in Rome (UIO), specializing in art history with a focus on Roman liturgy, medieval and early modern church decorations, and the interplay between art and ritual. His current research examines liturgy’s influence on visual culture across historical periods.

Education:

• PhD in Art History (2022), University of Poitiers & Masaryk University (dissertation on 9th-century Roman mosaics and liturgy)

Research Interests:

• Ritual practices and their material manifestations
• Medieval and early modern sacred spaces
• Environmental impacts on visual culture
• Reception of medieval art in modern contexts

Key Projects:

• Postdoctoral fellowship (2023–2025) at University of Regensburg (liturgical history of Santa Maria Maggiore)
• MSCA-RISE Conques Project (2021–2024): explored medieval pilgrimage and cultural landscapes

Publications:

• Focus on liturgical art, monastic environments, and Conques Abbey’s historical significance
• Recent articles analyze post-medieval processions, 19th-century liturgical revivalism, and premodern landscapes

Awards:

• Masaryk University Rector’s Award (2023)
• Masaryk University Vice-Rector’s Award (2022)

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with the Migrating Art Historians project and the Conques research network.