Gary Vikan: The Curation of Sacred Art

Gary Vikan is an internationally known medieval scholar, and was Director of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore from 1994 to 2013. Vikan curated a number of critically acclaimed exhibitions at the Walters, most notably, those devoted to the art of medieval Orthodoxy. Vikan has taught at Johns Hopkins University, Carleton College, Goucher College, and the Salzburg Global Seminar; in October 2014, he was Leader in Residence at the Noyce Leadership Institute. He is currently the Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor at Carleton College. Before coming to Baltimore, Vikan was Senior Associate at Harvard’s Center for Byzantine Studies at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC. A native of Minnesota, he received his B.A. from Carleton College and his Ph.D. from Princeton University; he is a graduate of the Harvard Program for Art Museum Directors and the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive Program.

From 2006 to 2011 Vikan had a weekly radio program on Baltimore’s NPR affiliate called “Postcards from the Walters.” He has served on numerous boards internationally and in the Baltimore region.

Vikan stepped down from the Walters directorship to write, lecture, and teach; to provide consulting services as Vikan Consulting LLC to cultural non-profits, collectors, and dealers; and to pursue projects at the intersection of the arts and sciences. In 2015 he was co-chair of a convening at the Salzburg Global Seminar devoted to neuroscience and creativity.

Vikan’s latest book is “The Holy Shroud: A Brilliant Hoax in the Time of the Black Death” from Pegasus Books. Vikan’s other books include "Early Byzantine Pilgrimage Art" (2010); "Postcards from the Walters" (2012); "From the Holy Land to Graceland" (2012), and his informative and highly entertaining memoir, "Sacred and Stolen: Confessions of a Museum Director" (SelectBooks, September 2016).

Vikan lectures extensively on topics as varied as Byzantine art, Elvis Presley, the Shroud of Turin, looted art and cultural property policy, neuroaesthetics, and art forgeries.