Agenda

CALL FOR PAPERS
8th International PhD Conference in History of Arts

In the history of works of art, and more broadly of human creations, the passage of time rarely implies any form of “stability”, whether material or cultural. The artworks that have come down to us are often the result of a series of transformations: deterioration, loss, restoration, remaking, reinstallation, readaptation, or reuse, all of which may alter their appearance, function, and sometimes even their meaning.

Over the last few decades, renewed interest in the materiality of objects has progressively shifted attention away from the “original” form of art objects – that is, the form conceived at the moment of their creation – toward their continued existence and the processes through which they are preserved, transformed, and transmitted.
From this perspective, this conference aims to examine how material processes affecting works of art and objects – such as alteration, destruction, conservation, and exhibition practices – contribute to the reconfiguration of their identity by introducing elements of discontinuity, redefinition, or rupture. More broadly, it asks how such processes shape their capacity to endure over time.

The conference welcomes contributions addressing these issues across all historical periods and from a wide range of disciplinary perspectives. The following thematic areas are intended as starting points for reflection:

• Alterations, unstable materialities, and ephemeral forms
• Movements and changing contexts
• Practices of repurposing: reactivation and conservation
• Epistemological perspectives

Submission deadline
26 April 2026

Notification of acceptance
11 May 2026

Conference languages
English and Italian

Organizing Committee:
Lisa Battagliotti
Francesco Colia
Sesilia Decolli
Angela Ferriello
Antonella Ferro
Ester Giachetti
Philomène Renard
Chiara Stombellini

For further information and for the Participation Guidelines, please refer to the attachments or contact: arts.phdconference@unive.it