Tobias Locker

Tobias Locker is a faculty member in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Saint Louis University-Madrid, where he teaches Art History. He holds a Ph.D. from Technische Universität Berlin and is actively engaged in research on decorative arts, cultural transfer, and decolonial perspectives in early modern and modern art.

Research Interests: His work centers on the decorative arts and design from the early modern to contemporary periods, with a focus on transnational movements, cultural exchange, and the political dimensions of artistic production. He explores how art forms like rococo, porcelain cabinets, and national revivals contributed to identity construction in Europe and beyond. His scholarship integrates decolonial and ecological critiques into art historical narratives.

Publication Trends: His recent publications reveal a sustained interest in royal patronage, craftsmanship transfer, and the ideological uses of art in national and imperial contexts. He frequently examines the mobility of artists and objects across Europe, particularly between France, Spain, Prussia, and the Mediterranean. His work bridges material culture, political history, and aesthetic theory.

• Visiting scholar at the Instituto de Historia del Arte Argentino y Americano (IHAAA), Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina (March - April 2018)
• Visiting scholar at the Deutsches Forum für Kunstgeschichte, Paris (May - July 2017)
• Visiting scholar at the Bard Graduate Center, New York City (May 2016)
• Visiting scholar at the Deutsches Forum für Kunstgeschichte, Paris (July - Sept. 2006)
• Doctoral award of the Studienwerk Villigst (April 2007 - May 2010)
• Pre-doctoral award of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes (Nov. 1999 - Oct. 2002)

Advising and Grants: While no formal students are listed, Dr. Locker has received significant research support through prestigious visiting scholar programs and German academic fellowships. His work has been hosted by institutions such as the Bard Graduate Center and the Deutsches Forum für Kunstgeschichte, indicating strong international recognition and collaborative engagement. He has contributed to edited volumes and special journal issues, often in leadership roles.

Labs and Teams: Dr. Locker participates in international scholarly networks, including collaborations with the Museo Reina Sofía, Universitat de Barcelona, and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. He has co-organized academic events and contributed to collective research projects on Cold War art and Francoist cultural policy, demonstrating active involvement in trans-institutional academic communities.