Affiliated Departments & Programs

Patricia J. Yu joined the faculty of Kenyon College in 2021. She teaches courses on the arts of Asia, China and Japan. Her research studies the multiple ways in which the fragments of the Yuanming Yuan (Garden of Perfect Brightness) have been reconstituted through acts of reconstruction and reproduction. Her research and teaching interests also address art in cross-cultural translation, ruin and fragmentation, looting and repatriation, cultural heritage politics, and themed landscapes. 

She was previously a graduate intern and predoctoral fellow with the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. She was also a curatorial fellow in the Asian export art department of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. 

Areas of Expertise

Arts of Asia, late imperial to contemporary China, cultural heritage

Education

2021 — Doctor of Philosophy from Univ. of California Berkeley

2009 — Bachelor of Arts from Pomona College

Courses Recently Taught

This course explores the highlights of Asian art, focusing on India, China and Japan. The class also will briefly cover Central Asia, Bengal, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand, Cambodia, Java and Korea. Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism and other Asian beliefs will be explained in the context of how they affect Asian art. Types of artwork examined will include painting, sculpture, decorative arts and some architecture. Class requirements include four one-hour slide examinations and other assignments. This counts toward the introductory course and Asia place requirements for the major. No prerequisite.

This course examines the extraordinary arts of China from the Paleolithic period (4000 BCE) through the 20th century. The class will learn about the rich traditions of jade, bronzes, lacquer, ceramics, textiles, painting, calligraphy, sculpture and architecture within their cultural context. Various forms of Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Legalism and other beliefs will be explained in conjunction with how they affect Chinese art. This is primarily a lecture class, but discussion is encouraged. This counts toward the Asia place requirement for the major. Prerequisite: Any 100-level ARHS course or previous coursework in Asian studies.

This seminar probes specific problems in modern European and contemporary art. Focusing upon a theme, artist or movement, the course will provide a forum for the in-depth study of the methods of art historical research. Discussion of weekly readings, classroom presentations and research papers will be required. This counts toward the after 1800 time requirement for the major. This course can be repeated up to two times for credit, so long as they cover different topics. Prerequisite: ARHS 111.