معرفی
Suzanne Preston Blier is the Allen Whitehill Clowes Professor of Fine Arts and African and African American Studies at Harvard University, affiliated with both the History of Art and Architecture Department and African and African American Studies Department. She serves as Faculty Associate at the Harvard Mellon Urban Initiative and member of the Institute for Quantitative Social Science.
- Ph.D., Art History and Archaeology, Columbia University (1981)
- B.A., University of Vermont
Her research explores intersections of African art, architecture, urban planning, and socio-political dynamics in medieval West Africa, particularly Yoruba and Dahomey traditions. Key themes include art’s role in identity formation, diaspora connections, and technology in African visual culture.
Recent publications include the 2023 Yale University Press book 1325: How Medieval Africa Made the World Modern (2026) and The History of African Art (Thames and Hudson 2023). Her work on Ife art, Yoruba urbanism, and African diaspora visual culture has been recognized through chieftaincy titles (Otun Yeye Obalufon, 2015) and international fellowships.
- 2020 Robert Motherwell Book Award
- Prose Prize in Art History and Criticism
- Charles Rufus Morey Prize
- Arnold Rubin Prize
- Election to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Blier’s civic work includes founding the Harvard Square Neighborhood Association and curatorial projects like Art of the Black World course (HAA 178V/AAAS 178X) with Sarah Lewis. She has mentored numerous students now working in art history, curation, and academia globally.
