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I am an art historian of the medieval Mediterranean. Specializing in the arts of the lands of Islam, my research investigates the intersections of visual culture, identity, and faith, with a focus on silk textiles attributed to the Muslim weavers and embroiderers of medieval Sicily. I follow these histories into the present day, exploring how Mediterranean pasts are repurposed in imperial projects, modern design, contemporary art, and political imaginaries.

With support from the Rome Prize in Medieval Studies from the American Academy in Rome, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and other institutions, my writing has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and other venues such as the 2026 Venice Biennale. I move between the medieval and the contemporary, asking what each reveals about the other.

 
Explore the research projects that bring these questions together.


Silk routes
Silk routes
Fashion histories
Fashion histories
Contested pasts
Contested pasts
Contemporary Islamic art
Contemporary Islamic art
 

Contact


Claire Dillon
PhD Candidate, Arts of the Lands of Islam

claire.dillon[at]columbia.edu


Department of Art History & Archaeology

Columbia University

I welcome invitations to speak, teach, and collaborate with museums, universities, artists, curators, and cultural organizations.



Text Only Owlstown
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