Stephen A Murphy

Dr. Stephen A. Murphy is the Pratapaditya Pal Senior Lecturer in Curating and Museology of Asian Art at SOAS University of London, jointly affiliated with the School of Arts and Department of History of Art and Archaeology. He specializes in the art and archaeology of Southeast Asia with focus on Buddhist/Hindu traditions (7th-11th centuries), museology, and restitution studies.

Educational background includes:

• BA in Ancient History and Archaeology from Trinity College Dublin
• MA and PhD in History of Art and Archaeology from SOAS
• FHEA (Fellow of Higher Education Academy) qualification

Murphy's research explores three interconnected domains:

• Buddhist/Hindu art and archaeology of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
• Maritime trade networks and cultural exchange in the Indian Ocean world
• Museum ethics with emphasis on restitution paradigms for Southeast Asian artifacts

He currently co-leads the Getty Foundation-funded project 'Circumambulating Objects: On Paradigms of Restitution of Southeast Asian Art'.

His publications demonstrate strong focus on:

• Debunking myths surrounding looted Southeast Asian artifacts
• Reevaluating Dvaravati-period archaeology through sema stones
• Documenting maritime trade routes like the 9th-century Tang Shipwreck
• Developing ethical frameworks for cultural restitution

Awards and recognition include:

• FHEA status recognizing teaching excellence

Advising and research leadership:

• Currently supervising PhD candidates on topics including Yue-ware trade and Chinese tomb figurines
• Principal investigator for Getty Foundation collaborative project on restitution

Murphy previously served as Senior Curator at Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum where he established the Tang Shipwreck Gallery and curated major exhibitions on Angkor, Myanmar, and Raffles collections. His fieldwork includes archaeological projects in Thailand, Laos, and Borneo.