Mary Healy – Irish Fulbright Student Award Winner 2010-2011

Fulbright Project: French Art History 1860-1968, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

Mary Healy is a PhD Research Scholar (2008-10), Government of Ireland Scholar (2010-11) and Fulbright Scholar (2010-11) at the Department of History, University of Limerick (UL), Ireland. Working under the supervision of Dr. Catherine Lawless (UL) and Professor Carol Armstrong (Yale University), Mary’s field of research is French art history 1860-1968 and she is specialising in French orientalism in art with particular emphasis on women artists, both painters and sculptors, who practiced in France and the Maghreb region of North Africa.

After compiling a database which records over 100 French women orientalists, Mary used her time with the Fulbright Program to progress her research and theories at the Department of the History of Art, Yale University.  Mary is also a practicing curator and artist.

“While academic life at Yale was exceptionally demanding, the rewards were tenfold. In addition to my PhD written submissions and availing of Yale’s wide art historical resources, I took doctoral level classes across multiple disciplines and departments and, in turn, this interdisciplinary activity presented me with an extensive theoretical approach to my research.

“I also attended weekly art historic guest lectures, seminars and workshops and in November 2010, on invitation from the Department of the History of Art, I delivered an open lecture on my research at the University after which I received invaluable feedback from experts across multiple disciplines.

“In February 2011, I attended the 99th Annual Conference of the College Art Association in New York where 900 art historic papers were presented and available to choose from over a four day period.

“During my Fulbright I met and worked with noted scholars such as Professor Carol Armstrong, Professor Timothy Barringer (Yale), Professor Mary Roberts (Sydney) and Professor Edwige Tamalet Talbayev (Yale). Representing Ireland as a Fulbright Scholar at Yale University is one of the highlights of my life.”

For further information on Mary Healy’s research and career please visit www.mary-healy.com