The museum’s collection is a vital resource for teaching and learning across disciplines at Lehigh University. Faculty from art history to engineering, psychology to environmental studies regularly integrate original works of art into their courses to spark critical thinking, inspire creativity, and deepen engagement with course content. Through class visits, custom-designed experiences, and object-based inquiry, we collaborate with instructors to create meaningful connections between the visual arts and diverse academic fields.
Since 2019, Annabella Pitkin, Associate Professor of Buddhist Studies and East Asian Religions in the Department of Religion, Culture, and Society, has partnered with LUAG to integrate the museum’s collections into her teaching. LUAG staff work closely with Professor Pitkin to select and present Himalayan artworks for her students to study firsthand—often unframed and up close—providing a rare and powerful opportunity for direct engagement with living Buddhist practices, ritual, and material culture. Through guided class visits and hands-on artmaking sessions with teaching artist Susan Morelock, students explore foundational Buddhist concepts, symbols, and visual traditions while making connections to contemporary social, environmental, and cultural issues.
Spotlight Recipient
Annabella Pitkin
Associate Professor of Buddhist Studies and East Asian Religions