Academic Excellence in Art History History and Art History

Alice Farinhas has completed both her bachelor's in history and master's in art history at George Mason, recently graduating with her M.A. in December 2025. During her time at Mason, she had the opportunity to study abroad at the 2024 Venice Biennale and intern for Mason Exhibitions, both of which deepened her interest in contemporary art. Her graduate research focused on modern and contemporary Latin American art, addressing broader questions of transnational exchange, decoloniality, and global artistic networks. Last fall, she completed an independent study under the guidance of Dr. Michele Greet. The concluding paper, "Knots as Knowing: Materiality, Ritual, and Decolonial Imagination," focuses on contemporary Chilean artist Cecilia Vicuña and examines how her quipu installations engage with Indigenous visual languages to address themes of memory, identity, and history in Chile and the Global South. 

Following graduation, she is focusing on beginning her career in the museum field and continuing her research in Latin American art, examining how diverse artists and collectives use their own artistic languages to imagine decolonial futures and redefine art’s role in memory, activism, and cultural survival.

Isabel Grewatz Feliciano is pursuing a master's degree in art history with a specialization in Latin American Modern art. Her research focuses primarily on female Latin American Surrealists. She studies their effects on the movement, how it affected their art practices and lives, and most importantly, the factors that led certain artists to leave Europe and settle in places such as Mexico City. Feliciano has tailored her academic research to highlight her interests in Latin American art, Surrealism, and Feminism, supported by her fluency in Spanish. 

In addition to her academic research, she is actively pursuing opportunities to interact with and apply curatorial methods. During her time working with the George Mason University Exhibitions team, she assisted with artwork selection, exhibition design and installation, public programming, and the development of interpretive materials, including wall labels, didactic panels, and artist interviews. Additionally, she staffed gallery events, fostering engagement between artists and the public. After she graduates, she plans on continuing to work on her curatorial practice.

Emma is a master's student studying art history at George Mason University. Her current research focuses on early modern Dutch art, with an emphasis on the intersection of gender, trade, and collecting practices. She has also served as the Vice President of the Art History Graduate Association since it was reestablished last year. Emma currently works in the education department at the National Air and Space Museum, and she plans to pursue a career in museum education or visitor experience after graduation. 

Lee is a first-year graduate student here at Mason. Born and raised in Alexandria, VA, Lee has always had a love for the arts. After finishing his masters, Lee plans on pursuing a PhD in Latin American art. In his free time, Lee like to read, run, and spend time in southern Maryland with his horse, Rocket.