Quoting name: Alexandra Curvelo
Professional Category: Full Professor (NOVA FCSH)
Positions within IHA: SC Member | RG Member [Pre-Modern Visual and Material Cultures] [Museum Studies] – Integrated Researcher
Thematic areas: Material and Visual culture in the early modern age; Cultural transfers in the early modern age; Nanban art; Museums and Collections
Contact: alexandra.curvelo@fcsh.unl.pt
CIÊNCIA ID: 3115-6AF2-D95E
ORCiD: 0000-0002-2064-9021
Scopus Author ID: 55386919700
WoS ID: AAD-9450-2020
Biography
Alexandra Curvelo is a full professor in the Department of Art History at NOVA FCSH. Since July 2025, she has served as dean of the Faculty.
From January 2023 to July 2025, she was the director of the Art History Institute (IHA) and represented the institute at the International Association of Research Institutes in the History of Art (RIHA). Within the Department of Art History, she coordinated the Master’s in Museology (2017–2024) and the Museology specialization within the Master’s in Art History and Museology (2024–2025).
She holds a PhD in Art History (2008), with a thesis on Nanban art and its circulation between Japan, China, and New Spain (c.1550 to 1700). Her research centres on the material and visual cultures associated with the Iberian presence in Asia, especially in early modern Japan, with an emphasis on production, circulation, reception, consumption, and cultural transfer.
With extensive professional experience in museology and artistic heritage from 1996 to 2014, she has curated exhibitions both in Portugal and internationally. Additionally, her research includes the history of museums and collections within Portugal.
She was Principal Investigator for the FCT-funded project “Interactions between Rivals: The Christian Mission and Buddhist Sects in Japan (c.1549–c.1647)”, collaborating with an international research team and institutions including the École Française d’Extrême-Orient (Paris) and the Italian School of East Asian Studies (Kyoto). The project resulted in a book (Peter Lang Publishing, 2021) and an open-access database: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1190560
She is an author and editor of numerous publications, including books, book chapters, exhibition catalogues, and academic articles. She has been invited to teach and deliver lectures at a wide range of universities, such as the University of Lisbon, Portuguese Catholic University, University of Porto, University of Coimbra, University of Minho, University of Salamanca, Autonomous University of Madrid, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Sapienza University of Rome, Freie Universität Berlin, University of Hamburg, Ruhr University Bochum, University of Warwick, SOAS University of London, Yale University, El Colegio de México, University of São Paulo, University of Macau, National Tsing-Hua University, Seoul National University, Nagasaki University, Kumamoto Prefectural University, Tohoku University, Kyushu University, the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, and the Accademia Ambrosiana.
From 2018 to 2020, she was appointed Cultural Adviser for the Nanban heritage of Amakusa, Japan. In 2019, she received the Special Merit Commendation Award from the Japanese Ambassador in Lisbon for her contributions to Luso-Japanese studies. She is a member of the National Council for Culture and is a Corresponding Member of the International Academy of Portuguese Culture.
[PT]
Alexandra Curvelo é professora catedrática do Departamento de História da Arte da NOVA FCSH e, desde Julho de 2025, directora da Faculdade.
Foi diretora do IHA e sua representante na International Association of Research Institutes in the History of Art (RIHA) entre Janeiro de 2023 e Julho de 2025. No Departamento de História da Arte, coordenou o Mestrado em Museologia (2017-2024) e a especialidade em Museologia do Mestrado em História da Arte e Museologia (2024-2025).
Doutorada em História da Arte em 2008 com uma tese sobre a Arte nanban e a sua circulação entre o Japão, a China e a Nova Espanha (c.1550-c.1700), a sua investigação centra-se nas culturas materiais e visuais da presença ibérica na Ásia, em particular no Japão, no início do período moderno, incluindo processos de produção, circulação, receção, consumo e transferências culturais.
Com vasta experiência de trabalho na área da museologia e do património artístico (1996-2014), tem comissariado exposições em Portugal e no estrangeiro e a sua investigação incide também sobre a história dos museus e das coleções em Portugal.
Foi Investigadora Principal do projeto financiado pela FCT, “Interações entre Rivais: a Missão Cristã e as seitas budistas no Japão (c.1549-c.1647)”, com uma equipa internacional de investigadores e com a colaboração da École Française d’Extrême Orient (Paris) e da Escola Italiana de Estudos da Ásia Oriental (Quioto). Este projeto está associado a um livro (Peter Lang Publishing, 2021) e a uma base de dados em acesso aberto: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1190560
Autora e responsável editorial de livros, capítulos de livros, catálogos de exposição e artigos científicos e de divulgação, tem sido convidada como professora e conferencista por diversas instituições académicas, como a Universidade de Lisboa, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Universidade do Porto, Universidade de Coimbra, Universidade do Minho, a Universidad de Salamanca, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, Sapienza Università di Roma, Freie Universität Berlin, Universität Hamburg, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, University of Warwick, SOAS University of London, Yale University, El Colegio de México, Universidade de São Paulo, University of Macau, National Tsing-Hua University, Seoul National University, Nagasaki University, Prefectural University of Kumamoto, Tohoku University, Kyushu University, o Indian Institute of Advanced Study e a Accademia Ambrosiana.
Entre 2018 e 2020, foi nomeada Conselheira Cultural do património Nanban de Amakusa (Japão). Em 2019, recebeu o Prémio de Comenda de Mérito Especial do Embaixador do Japão em Lisboa pela divulgação dos estudos luso-japoneses. É membro do Conselho Nacional de Cultura e da Academia Internacional da Cultura Portuguesa.
(data supplied by the researcher)
Abbreviations:
SC – Scientific Council
RG – Research Group