Michele Dantini

Michele Dantini is Full Professor of Art History at the Department of Italian Language, Literature, and Arts in the World (LILAIM) at the University for Foreigners of Perugia, a position he has held since 2016. He is also Visiting Professor at IMT School for Advanced Studies, Lucca, since the same year, reflecting his dual institutional engagement in Italian art historical scholarship. He earned his PhD in Art History and Philosophy from the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa under the supervision of Remo Bodei and Paola Barocchi.

His research spans from early modern to contemporary art, with a focus on the Grand Tour, European avant-gardes, Cold War cultural politics, totalitarian regimes, neo-avant-gardes, and 21st-century art. He has curated major international exhibitions, including “Paul Klee. At the Origins of Art” (MUDEC, Milan, 2018) and “Georges Braque vis-à-vis. Picasso, Matisse, Duchamp” (Palazzo Reale, Mantua, 2019). His scholarly output includes monographs such as Le forme del divino (2024), Storia dell'arte e storia civile. Il Novecento in Italia (2022), and Arte e politica in Italia tra fascismo e Repubblica (2018).

The recent publications reflect a deep engagement with themes of geopolitical art, iconoclasm, cultural memory, and the metaphysical dimensions of modern and contemporary art. His work frequently bridges art history with political and cultural theory, particularly in the context of 20th-century Italy. Articles such as 'Patrimonio e geopolitica in Carlo Levi' and 'Insidie della citazione' demonstrate his focus on the ideological underpinnings of artistic production and the complex legacies of modernism.

Dantini is an active contributor to leading academic journals such as Predella Journal of Visual Arts and piano B, where he serves on the editorial board. He also writes for major Italian publications including Il Mulino, Il Foglio, and Corriere della Sera, ensuring broad dissemination of his critical insights.

He has directed academic programs such as the MAED Master’s at the University of Eastern Piedmont (2011–2013) and served on the Scientific Committee of OGR | CRT Officina Grandi Riparazioni in Turin (2018–2021). His involvement in organizing conferences and thematic journal issues underscores his leadership in fostering interdisciplinary dialogue between art history, political history, and cultural studies.

Dantini maintains a strong digital academic presence through platforms like Academia.edu and ResearchGate, and continues to teach courses on contemporary art, cultural innovation, and digital humanities. His work exemplifies a rigorous integration of archival research, curatorial practice, and critical theory, positioning him as a leading figure in contemporary Italian art historiography.