CV

Victor Murari, Ph.D
Professor / Researcher 

Email: victortmurari@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/victortmurari
WebSite: https://victormurari.art 

Experienced art historian with a strong background in research, education, and curatorial practice. Specialized in modern and contemporary art, with a focus on bridging academic and museum practices. Proficient in developing educational programs, managing exhibitions, and conducting interdisciplinary research.

EDUCATION: 

Ph.D.	University of São Paulo / Museum of Contemporary Art	April  2023
	Aesthetics and Art History	Brazil
	Thesis: “Between Critique and Form: Reflections on Giorgio Morandi’s Works in the MAC USP Collection”.
	Advisor: Dr. Ana Gonçalves Magalhães.Funded by FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation), internationally recognized for supporting innovative research.

MA.	University of São Paulo / Museum of Contemporary Art	November 2016
	Aesthetics and Art History	Brazil
	Thesis: “Dalí’s Comedy: considerations about visual resources”.
	Advisor: Dr. Ana Gonçalves MagalhãesFunded by CAPES/CNPq, emphasizing the impact of surrealist works on public collections and their educational applications in museums.

BA.	Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo	November 2009
	History – BA. and Licentiate’s Degree	Brazil
	Faculty of Social Sciences.

RESEARCH INTERESTS: 

• Modern and contemporary art history.
• Curatorial practices and the production of knowledge within museum contexts, including exhibition design and collection management.
• Intersections between art historiography and cultural studies, emphasizing the role of art in shaping societal narratives.
• Development of educational programs and community engagement through object-based learning in museum settings.
• Methodologies for digital and physical preservation of art collections in public institutions.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE: 

Doctoral Researcher
University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil (2018–2023)

• Conducted a comprehensive study on Giorgio Morandi’s works within the MAC USP collection, exploring the intersections of critique, form, and curatorial practices.
• The project resulted in the doctoral dissertation: “Between Critique and Form: Reflections on Giorgio Morandi’s Works in the MAC USP Collection.”
• Supported by a FAPESP fellowship.

Master’s Researcher
University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil (2014–2016)

• Developed a master’s thesis analyzing Salvador Dalí’s visual resources through research on a public art collection, focusing on surrealism and its impact on modern art.
• Supported by a CAPES/CNPq fellowship.

Research Group Member – Narratives of Modern Art
University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil (2016–2020)

• Investigated critical texts and authors to construct narratives of modern art and their relationship with curatorial practices.
• Supported by CAPES/CNPq.

Research Group Member – Collect, Identify, Describe, Exhibit: The Curatorial Cycle
University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil (2019–2023)

• Participated in transdisciplinary research on methodologies for dealing with museum collections, analyzing the curatorial cycle from acquisition to dissemination.
• Supported by FAPESP.

Research Group Member – HISTARTHE
University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil (2020–2022)

• Engaged in critical studies on art historiography, mapping the presence and absence of fundamental texts in Brazilian contexts and their impact on institutionalizing art history.
• Supported by CNPq.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE: 

Art History Lecturer

Applied Arts of the 20th Century in the MAC USP Collection (2021):

• Designed a course integrating object-based learning by engaging students with the museum’s applied arts collection, encouraging them to analyze the relationship between design, functionality, and historical context.
• Incorporated curatorial exercises, such as creating hypothetical exhibitions, to bridge theoretical knowledge and practical application.
• Adaptable to Millsaps College through hands-on projects utilizing MMA’s permanent collection to explore connections between art, material culture, and local histories.

Connections between Italy and Brazil: Modern Art and the Art System in the 20th Century (2021):

• Developed a transatlantic perspective on modern art movements, fostering critical discussions on cultural exchanges and their influence on artistic practices.
• Facilitated collaborative projects where students analyzed and presented objects from the MAC USP collection, enhancing research and presentation skills.
• This course’s structure could align with MMA exhibitions, encouraging Millsaps students to explore global and local narratives through museum objects.

Decorative Arts in the MAC USP Collection (2020):

• Delivered lectures and practical sessions analyzing the evolution of decorative arts, focusing on craftsmanship, design, and socio-political contexts.
• Employed comparative studies between decorative art pieces to promote critical thinking and interpretation skills.
• Can be adapted to Millsaps to include curatorial workshops that prepare students to work with the MMA and local collections.

Portuguese Teacher (Volunteering)
Missão PAZ, São Paulo, Brazil
2022

• Provided Portuguese language instruction to migrants and refugees, facilitating their integration into Brazilian society through language and cultural education.

History Teacher (Volunteering)
Educafro – NGO, São Paulo, Brazil
2009

• Taught history classes to underserved students, preparing them for university entrance exams with a focus on critical thinking and historical analysis.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 

Columnist
MEER Magazine, São Paulo, Brazil
2024–Present

• Write regular articles on art and culture for a broad audience, blending academic insights with accessible narratives.

Consultant – Exhibition “Ideals: The Legacy of Giorgio Morandi”
Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB), São Paulo / Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2021–2022

• Led research and writing for the exhibition catalog, bridging academic insights with public communication.
• Presented the exhibition to media and VIP audiences and trained the educational team for public engagement.

Curator – Exhibition “Projects for a Modern Daily Life in Brazil: 1920–1960”
Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC USP), São Paulo, Brazil
2018–2022

• Conducted research and co-curated the exhibition showcasing Brazilian modernist projects
• Integrated historical artifacts with modern interpretative frameworks to enhance audience understanding.

Museum Educator
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
2010–2012

• Designed and implemented the “Percorrer e Registrar” program, which aimed to make art accessible to underserved communities by facilitating guided visits and printmaking workshops for individuals with limited cultural access.
• Collaborated with social organizations to identify and engage participants, enabling over 500 individuals from marginalized areas to experience the museum’s collection.
• Focused on fostering inclusivity by creating interactive educational materials tailored to diverse age groups and literacy levels, ensuring a welcoming and participatory environment for all visitors.
• Organized teacher training sessions to empower local educators to incorporate museum resources into their classrooms, amplifying the program’s long-term impact.
• The program reinforced the museum’s mission to democratize access to art and served as a model for community engagement initiatives.

Researcher – Iconographic Research
Editora Saraiva, São Paulo, Brazil
2012–2013

• Researched and curated visual materials for history and art textbooks, sourcing content from national and international collections.

FELLOWSHIPS: 

Doctoral Fellowship – FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation)
University of São Paulo, Brazil (2018–2023)

• Awarded a competitive fellowship to conduct doctoral research on Giorgio Morandi’s works within the MAC USP collection.
• Developed a transdisciplinary approach to curatorial practices, culminating in the dissertation: “Between Critique and Form: Reflections on Giorgio Morandi’s Works in the MAC USP Collection.”

Master’s Fellowship – CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel)
University of São Paulo, Brazil (2014–2016)

• Supported by CAPES/CNPq to research Salvador Dalí’s visual resources and their impact on surrealism and modern art.
• Conducted original research in a public art collection, resulting in the thesis: “Dalí’s Comedy: Considerations on Visual Resources.”

LANGUAGES AND TECHNICAL SKILLS: 

Languages:

• English: Full professional proficiency, including teaching and academic writing. Experienced in conducting lectures, curatorial research, and publishing in English.
• Portuguese: Native speaker.
• Italian: Second language. Advanced reading and conversational skills.
• French: Advanced reading and conversational skills.
• Spanish: Advanced reading and conversational skills, useful for engaging with diverse communities and Latin American art contexts.

Technical Skills:

• Collection Management Systems: Proficient in TMS (The Museum System) and EMu (Electronic Museum). Experienced in cataloging, database management, and digital archiving for museum collections.
• Text Edition: Experienced in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, LibreOffice Writer. 
• Project Management Tools: Experienced with Notion and Microsoft Project for managing curatorial and educational projects.
• Digital Tools for Education: Proficient in Canva creating visually engaging presentations; skilled in Moodle, Google Classroom, and Microsoft Teams. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: 

• Advanced Creative Thinking and AI: Tools for Success
  Imperial College London, online (2023)
• Inclusive Leadership: The Power of Workplace Diversity
  University of Colorado, online (2023)
• Arts and Heritage Management
  Università Bocconi, online (2023)
• Digital Collections in Museums: Project Implementation
  ENAP – Brazilian National School of Public Administration, online (2023)
• Digital Skills: Artificial Intelligence
  FutureLearn, online (2023)
• Museum Education I and II
  ENAP – Brazilian National School of Public Administration, online (2023)
• Effective Problem-Solving and Decision-Making
  University of California, Irvine, online (2023)
• Project Management
  University of California, Irvine, online (2022)
• Creating Meaningful and Inclusive Museum Practices
  International Council of Museums (ICOM), Online (2022)
• Museum Planning: Strategic Planning for Museums
  ENAP – Brazilian National School of Public Administration, online (2021)
• English for Teaching Purposes
  Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, online (2021)