I am a cultural historian who studies the entwined histories of art and science. I use the study of visual and material culture to reveal the ways in which humans have defined what counts as “natural.”
My deep interest in the intersection of material culture and the natural world led me pursue a BA in history of art and visual culture from UC Santa Cruz, an MA in the history of decorative arts, design, and culture from the Bard Graduate Center, and a PhD in the history of science at Yale University. I have taught courses at Vanderbilt University and UC San Francisco, and held a number of professional positions at art institutions, including the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco and The Art Loss Register. I currently serve as an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at UCSF.
I grew up on the central coast of California and currently reside in San Francisco with my partner and young daughter. I also run Floral Laurel, a small metalworking studio, where I design and hand-fabricate fine jewelry inspired by nature and history.
Laurel J. Waycott 