The Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tongyun Yin as Cofrin Curator of Asian Art. Dr. Yin assumed her new position on March 1, 2021. She joins the Harn with more than 10 years of experience in the field, including serving as Curator of Asian Art at the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Oak Brook, Illinois since June 2019, and Associate Curator of Asian Art at the MacLean Collection Asian Art Museum in Mettawa, Illinois from June 2014 to May 2019. Dr. Yin is also a seasoned educator, having served as Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China from 2003 to 2009.
“Dr. Tongyun Yin’s background in higher education as a professor combined with her curatorial experience make her a perfect fit for the University of Florida and the Harn,” said Dr. Lee Anne Chesterfield, Harn Museum of Art Director. “As the Museum embarks on its next strategic plan, enhancing the student experience through art-centered contributions to academic life across disciplines is key. Dr. Yin will bring a fresh perspective on using our Asian art collections to reach students, bringing fascinating new exhibitions and collaborations across campus. We are so pleased to welcome her to the Harn.”
Dr. Yin specializes in the history, theory and criticism of modern and contemporary Chinese art and the institutionalization of Chinese art and cultural heritage. She holds a Ph.D. from University of California San Diego, a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from The George Washington University and Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees from Renmin University of China, in Beijing.
As Curator of Asian Art at the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, Dr. Yin has been responsible for re-installing permanent collection exhibitions, curating temporary exhibitions such as Recarving the Past: The Art of Chinese Bronzes and Jades (2019-2020), producing publications and coordinating educational programs. During her five years as Associate Curator of Asian Art at the MacLean Collection Asian Art Museum, she oversaw the research, interpretation, preservation and growth of the collection and completed two research catalogues including “Early to Medieval Chinese Pottery” (2020) and “Highlights of Asian Art” (e-Book, 2015). A few examples of her four exhibitions curated for the MacLean include Passion for Form: Southeast Asian Art from the MacLean Collection (2019) and Fire and Earth: Early Chinese Pottery (upcoming).
Dr. Yin will direct the growth and development of the Harn’s Asian art collection, housed in the 26,000-square-foot David A. Cofrin Asian Art Wing. The collection includes more than 3,560 works from China, Japan, Korea, Nepal, Tibet, Vietnam, India, Thailand and Indonesia with strengths evident in ceramics, jades and metal works, and further augmented by stone sculptures, paintings and prints. The variety and quality of the works provide the opportunity for Dr. Yin to explore regional and transnational trends in Asian art, ranging from ceramic traditions to the spread of Buddhism, to the relationships between Asia and the West through artistic visions and creations.
“It’s both a thrill and a great honor to join the Harn Museum family as the Cofrin Curator of Asian Art,” said Dr. Yin. “The museum’s rich and diverse Asian art collections, its strong collaboration with the University of Florida’s academic departments, and its commitment to inspire and enrich the life of the community through art create incredible opportunities for me to contribute fresh perspectives on the collections for scholarly and general audiences. I look forward to working with my colleagues to delve into the collections and provide innovative and engaging ways
for visitors to connect with Asian art.”
Released March 1, 2021
Back to all news