Art History Professor Publishes Book, Curates Exhibition on Goan Artists
In December, UT Assistant Professor of Art History Kelli Wood celebrated the book publication and exhibition opening of a landmark project centered on artists and makers in Goa, a region with a rich history of artistic knowledge and innovation.
Makers and Materials: Goa Past and Present connects Goa’s centuries-old craft traditions with the practices of contemporary makers in India, featuring sculptural works, textiles, multimedia installations, photography, and text-based pieces that invite visitors to consider the way objects embody both the visible and invisible forces of history. The project is the culmination of years of work, said Wood, who co-edited the book and served as a curator and advisor for the exhibition in collaboration with the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts .
“Over three years, we brought together over a dozen artists and collaborated across four continents to do something special; to seriously connect art historical scholarship with makers who are breaking new ground on issues relating to craft, heritage, media, and the environment,” she continued. “We are so fortunate that the university—the School of Art, the Marco Institute, the Denbo Center—supported such an ambitious project.” In addition to the University of Tennessee, Harvard University, the American Academy in Rome, and Fulbright provided support.
The Makers and Materials exhibition, which opened on December 6, 2025 at the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts in concert with the Serendipity Arts Festival, has already garnered features in Indian media (including The Times of India) and received thousands of visitors, including dignitaries such as Ambassador Maya Tissafi and Cultural Attaché Jurg Petermann of Switzerland and noted art historians such as Federica Zanco of Italy. It continues to welcome groups from schools and colleges, who have been able to participate in hands-on workshops with the exhibiting artists.
Collaborating with the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts and seeing the attention and recognition the project has recieved is an “honor,” said Wood.
“Emboldened is the word—I ask, what next?” she said. “How can we keep incorporating our cutting-edge research into our teaching and encourage our students’ access to the latest advances in creative enterprise?”
Makers and Materials: Goa Past and Present is on view at the Sunaparanta Goa Centre for the Arts through February 28, 2026.