News

Two History of Art and Architecture doctoral students awarded prestigious Wyeth fellowships

Two scholars land coveted spots at the nation’s top art research institute.

Two doctoral candidates from UC Santa Barbara’s Department of History of Art and Architecture, Elizabeth Driscoll Smith and Sylvia Faichney, have been named Wyeth Fellows at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Visual Arts (CASVA). Housed at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., CASVA is the Gallery’s research institute and offers the most prestigious national-level fellowships in art and architectural history: limited to ten total pre-doctoral fellowships nationally.

Humanities and Fine Arts Community Gathers to ‘Reimagine What is Possible’

Faculty and staff convene at UC Sedgwick Reserve to reflect, reconnect and plan for the future of HFA.

In the inspiring and beautiful setting of the UC Sedgwick Reserve, faculty, staff and leadership from the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts (HFA) gathered on Monday for a critical half-day retreat. The event, “A Conversation at Sedgwick,” was designed as an opportunity to “strategize together in a time of crisis” and discuss “what we care about most at our public university.”

From Santa Barbara to Venice: Professor Iman Djouini Brings North African Folktales to the World Stage

Her solo show, “Limn,” will be featured in the Personal Structures exhibition, running alongside the 61st La Biennale di Venezia in 2026.

$1.5 million grant positions UCSB Religious Studies at the forefront of spirituality research

Prof. Joseph Blankholm (Religious Studies) has been awarded a $1.5M Templeton grant to study the rise of modern spirituality as religious affiliation declines.

Standing on a New Tectonic Plate

Writing Program & CCS lecturer Robert Krut discusses his new poetry collection, "Oh Oblivion," and how teaching at UCSB provides a creative spark for his work.

The Art of Holding Memory

Dept. of Art & CCS lecturer Kim Garcia's new exhibition uses sculpture to explore family history, migration, and the "art of holding memory."

Discourse in Motion: Collaboration Takes the Stage

Led by Prof. Brandon Whited, UCSB's Santa Barbara Dance Theater premieres "FORUM," a new collaborative work featuring student apprentices.

An Enduring Voice: HFA Celebrates Joan Mitchell

See "Sunflower" at the AD&A Museum's Joan Mitchell centennial show, featuring insights from History of Art & Architecture Chair Jenni Sorkin on the artist's legacy.