About Philip

Professor of Art History & Visual Culture, Dept of Visual & Performing Arts. As founder of Fairfield's Art History program (1975), Professor Eliasoph has been devoted to expanding students' knowledge, understanding and direct observation of world art. Sharing my passion for the history of art, I've focused on on western art in the traditional and revolutionary contexts.

Publishing on Renaissance models, 'bel disegno' academic, canonical methods, my writing and public views converge on the muscular shifts of midcentury American art styles - from Social Realism to avant-gardist Abstract Expressionism. In my critique of recycling styles, I'd like to propose a history of art without label, periods, or categorizations. More broadly, these talks are based on the continuum of style/zeitgeist progress from antiquity to the cyber age.

The heritage of painting, sculpture, architecture and mass media as revealing 'mirrors of time, place, and society.' Combining Ignatian inspired 'discernment' with the humanistic qualities of aesthetic enjoyment, his lively, dynamic talks expand the pleasures of viewing the visual arts. Setting out with basic questions - speaking with freshman students or senior, lifelong art lovers, we come to explore:

* 'what is Art?'
* 'why does humanity treasure its values?'
* 'how can I learn to actively critique, analyze and appreciate Art as part of my own intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth as a fully realized human being"?

In sync with an educated audience's aspirations to follow Jefferson's idea of 'life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,' he hopes to inspire and delight art enthusiasts of all ages. Often invited as a public lecturer, connoisseur and animated raconteur, my hope is to share my own artistic journeys as multi-dimensional 'classroom/museum without walls.' With decades of 'in country' art directed programs, I have escorted thousands of art pilgrims to museums, cultural landmarks, world heritage sites throughout the US and Europe.

After a career as a regional art critic, publishing reviews for daily newspapers and magazines, he has been the weekly blogger for The New York Times InEducation global curriculum platform. Founder, moderator and host of the university's community based 'Open VISIONS Forum' public affairs programs, I have enjoyed stage dialogs with many notables.

A short list includes: Isabel Allende, Benizir Bhutto, Abba Ebban, Wm. F. Buckley, Jr, Dustin Hoffman, Philippe de Montebello, Ken Burns, Stephen Sondheim, David McCullough, Andrea Mitchell, Tim Russert, Brian Williams, Gore Vidal, Lesley Stahl, Bill O'Reilly, Dominck Dunne, Salaman Rushdie, Christopher Hitchens, Fareed Zakaria, Tara Westover, Jon Meacham, H.R. Liz Cheney, US Sen. Cory Booker, UN Ambassadors Susan Rice and Samantha Power, etc. All the while being privileged to share their unscripted, spontaneous views with our community audiences.

Connecting art of the past with issues and contexts of today - he guides us to visually explore the masterpieces of ancient, Renaissance, modern and contemporary artworks - all the more enriching as we come to realize why:
'Art Really Matters!'