Dr. John Clarke

Biography

Professor John R. Clarke received his Ph.D. from Yale University and began teaching at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. His primary teaching and research interests focus on ancient Roman art, art-historical methodology, and contemporary art. Clarke has authored seven books and over 78 essays, articles, and reviews. Notable works include 'Roman Black-and-White Figural Mosaics,' published in 1979, and 'Houses of Roman Italy, 100 B.C.-A.D. 250: Ritual, Space, Decoration,' published in 1991, which resulted from ten years of on-site research in Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Ostia Antica. His 1998 publication 'Looking Lovemaking: Constructions of Sexuality in Roman Art, 100 B.C.-A.D. 250' offers insights into ancient Roman attitudes towards love, gender, and race. Clarke's work continues to explore the visual representation of non-elite Romans, analyzing how art encodes the identities and practices of lower strata society. He currently serves as co-director of the Oplontis Project, a collaborative research initiative focused on the comprehensive publication and digital modeling of a significant luxury villa in Oplontis, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Clarke's expertise is recognized through his service on several prestigious boards, including the College Art Association and the American Council of Learned Societies.

Research Interests

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