Stephen Whiteman

Dr. Stephen Whiteman is a Reader (Professor) in the Art and Architecture of China at The Courtauld Institute of Art. His research focuses on early modern Chinese visual and spatial cultures within global frameworks, with expertise in garden studies, digital humanities, and transcultural cartography. He holds leadership roles as an Elected Governor of The Courtauld and Trustee of the Association for Art History. His work bridges historical analysis and contemporary digital methods, emphasizing landscape’s role in power dynamics.

Research Interests:

• Connected histories of early modern China
• Landscape and authority
• Technologies of art and visuality
• Mobility in the Indo-Pacific
• Computational art history

Awards:

• On the Brinck Book Award (2022)
• John Brinckerhoff Jackson Book Prize (2022)
• Best Book Prize (Highly Commended, 2021)

Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD candidates on topics ranging from Qing imperial art to Sino-European encounters. Received a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship (2023–2024) for his cartography project. Co-leads Chinese Global Orders (British Academy-funded) and X-Sheds: An Interactive Art History of Experience.

Labs/Projects: Collaborates on digital humanities initiatives, including Trans-Asias: Early Modern Stories from The Courtauld, and co-edits academic journals and special issues on port cities and Southeast Asian art histories.