Paul Lavy

Paul Lavy is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Art History Department at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. His research focuses on the art and architecture of early Southeast Asia, particularly Hindu-Buddhist traditions linked to the Mekong Delta and Preangkorian Khmer civilization. He has taught courses on global art history, Khmer civilization, and Southeast Asian heritage. His work has been funded by institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Asian Cultural Council.

Education: PhD and MA from the University of California, Los Angeles; BA from Mary Washington College.

Research Highlights:

• Recipient of the 2014 University of Hawaii Board of Regents’ Excellence in Teaching Award.
• Authored/co-authored influential works on Angkorian statuary, Preangkorian art, and Khmer heritage.

His publications explore the intersection of art, politics, and religion in early Southeast Asia, with notable contributions to understanding Vishnu, Shiva, and Harihara imagery as tools of political power. He collaborates with scholars like Martin Polkinghorne on Khmer sculptural studies.