Justin E. A. Kroesen

Position

Professor, Material Culture of Christianity

Affiliation

Research groups

Short info

I am Professor of Cultural History, specializing in the material culture of Christianity, and scientific curator of the art collection of the University Museum. The main focus of my research is on the art and architecture of medieval churches and their treatment in the period of the Reformations.
Research

My research interests include:

  • Medieval church buildings and their land- and cityscape settings 
  • Church furnishings and imagery of the Middle Ages and the early modern period
  • The Reformation and its impact in the arts

The geographical focus of my research is Western Europe and a main characteristic is the comparative approach. Most of my research concerns Scandinavia, the Low Countries, Germany and the Iberian Peninsula. 

Through my involvement in Future for Religious Heritage, I also work on the challenges and opportunities of religious heritage at present.  

Outreach

I frequently give lectures on topics related to my research. I have worked together with the Church of Norway (Bjørgvin Diocese) on different projects since 2016. During my years in Groningen (Netherlands, until 2016), I was involved in the work of the foundations for Old Groningen and Old Frisian Churches. 

Teaching

Topics in my teaching include:

  • Medieval art and architecture
  • Liturgy and the arts
  • Christian cultural heritage
  • Iconography
  • Cultural history of Christianity 

NB my present work at UiB does not include teaching. I was a visiting professor at the University of Girona (Spain) in 2021-2023. From 2004-2015, I taught as an Assistant Professor at the University of Groningen (Netherlands), where I was elected as University of Groningen Teacher of the Year in 2013.

Publications
Popular scientific article
Chapter
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Academic lecture
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Academic article
Academic monograph
Other product
Website (informational material)
Academic literature review
Interview
Popular scientific book
Popular scientific lecture
Exhibition catalogue
Non-fiction book
Popular scientific chapter/article

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Projects

Recent and ongoing research projects include:

  • The survival of medieval art in Lutheran churches in Germany (book expected in 2025)
  • Church heritage around the North Sea (edited volume published in 2024, with Anja Rasche and Kerstin Petermann)
  • Visiting professor (Cátedra del Prado) at the Prado Museum in Madrid (Spain) on "the arts of the altar" (book published in 2023) 
  • The medieval church art collection of the University Museum of Bergen (catalogue published in 2022, with Stephan Kuhn)
  • Swedish medieval tabernacle shrines in their European context (book published in 2021, with Peter Tångeberg)