About us

Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/history-of-art/about/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/history-of-art/study/undergraduate/

We are a large, vibrant department, located in the beautiful city of York.

We produce world-class teaching and research on the history of art, from ancient Mesopotamia to the modern and contemporary. As art historians, we think about objects in ways that are rigorous and creative. Many of our staff have professional experience and connections in the wider art historical sector, including backgrounds in curating exhibitions at an international level.

Our core values

a commitment to excellence
a belief that art enriches lives
a conviction that every member of the department should be empowered to realise their potential, irrespective of background.

1st in UK for impact and environment,

the support we give to researchers (Times Higher Education’s ranking of the latest REF results, 2021).

75th in the world for arts and humanities

(QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2025).

Our teaching

Our undergraduate and Masters degrees introduce students to material objects from across the globe, with a wide range of modules for students to select and tailor their degree to their individual interests.

We offer a unique range of opportunities to study the history of art in its professional settings, including the art market, museums and curatorship, and art law and restitution ethics.

Study with us

Our facilities

Our campus boasts an impressive 900-piece art collection, which is both within our department and across campus. We also have gallery space and innovative object handling and art storage space in Heslington Hall, an Edwardian country house at the heart of campus.

The city of York is rich in architecture, with influences from medieval through to modern. In the region, we’re surrounded by galleries, country houses and medieval cathedrals. We're also close to several contemporary art spaces, such as the Hepworth Wakefield.

Explore our facilities