Nalini N. Rao

Nalini N. Rao, PhD

Faculty - Undergraduate
Headshot of Nalini Rao
Associate Professor of World Art
Email
nrao@soka.edu
Phone
949-480-4034
Curriculum Vitae

Nalini N. Rao joined the Soka University of America faculty as professor of world art in September 2000. Rao came to SUA from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where she taught courses in Survey of Asian Art, Art of India and Southeast Asia. Before that, she was an assistant professor of art at the University of Hawaii, Hilo (1998), and she was a consulting curator for Asian Art at the Amarillo Museum of Art in Texas (1997). Prior to that, she was an instructor of the Buddhist Art of India & Southeast Asia at California State University, Long Beach (1996) and Instructor in History of Western Art at California State University, Northridge (1995).

Rao resides in Mission Viejo, California.

  • MA University of Marathawada, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India–History, Art, and Architecture, S.E. Asia; 1973
  • PhD History, University of Mysore, Mysore, India–Ancient History and Archaeology; 1981
  • PhD Art History, University of California, Los Angeles–Indian Art, Classical Art, Islamic Art; 1991
  • Introduction to Art History
  • Introduction to Visual Culture
  • Modern Art
  • Asian Art
  • Architecture and Urban Planning
  • Women in Art and Visual Culture
  • Buddhist Art of Asia
  • History of Indian Civilization
  • Gandhi and Modern India
  • Core: Enduring Questions
  • Learning Clusters:
    • Native Americans
    • LA Architecture
    • Yoga for Personal Transformation
    • Kashmir Conflict
    • Indian Theater
  • Hindu Monasteries in South India
  • Relic Worship in Hindu and Buddhist Monasteries
  • The Vrindavana and the Buddhist Stupa
  • The Educational Institution in India
  • Narrative Art in Mughal, Rajasthani and Pahari Paintings
Publications
 
Articles in Peer Reviewed Journals 
 
Chapters in Edited Books 
  • Vijayanagara: A Portrait of the City. Kalyan Mitra Felicitation Vol. 2023
  • The Hindu Monastery in South India. Facets of Indian Culture. Edited by Nalini Rao.  Aditya Prakashan. New Delhi. 2022. 200-2012. 
    https://www.amazon.com/Facets-Indian-Culture-Nalini-Rao/dp/8195096182/
  • Archaeology and Community Identity: The Case of Siddhapur in Western India. KALYANA MITRA: Glimpses of Indian History, Culture and Archaeology. Prof. P. Chenna Reddy Felicitation Volume. 2021 
  • Jain Memorials in South India: Transformations in Form and Imagery Nagabharana : Recent Trends in Jainism  -- Felicitation Volume to Professor. Hampa. Nagarajaiah (Hampana). 2021 
    https://www.academia.edu/42451248/Book_hampana_circular 
  • An Analysis of Jain Sculpture and Built Environment: Recent Excavations in Karnataka. South Asian Studies. Bridging Cultures. Edited by Deepak Shimkhada. South Asian Studies Association. Claremont, Ca. 2020. 127-145. https://www.amazon.com/South-Asian-Studies-Bridging-Cultures/dp/B0891L45J4 
  • Relics, Icons, and Portraits in Hindu Institutions: An Examination of the Worship of the Teacher in Across the South of Asia. A Volume in Honor of Professor Robert L. Brown. edited by Robert D. Caroli and Paul A. Lavy. New Delhi: DKPrintworld. 2020. 121-132. 
    https://www.amazon.com/Across-South-Asia-Professor-Robert/dp/8124610053
  • Contribution of Lothal and Dvaraka to Indian Archaeology in Felicitating a legendary archaeologist Prof. B.B. Lal edited Mani, B.R. and others DKPW, Delhi. 2018. 217-226 
    https://www.draupaditrust.org/images/felicitating%20an%20archaeological%20legend%20Prof%20B.B.Lal%20Content.pdf
    https://worldcat.org/ILL/AE/Gj8MfJuo8
  • Indus Valley Civilization. Encyclopedia. Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Edited by Pankaj Jain, Rita Sherma, Madhu Khanna. 2018 
    https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_251-1
  • Multi-Zonal Integration and Network Relations at Vijayanagra. Nationalism and Impreialism in South and Southeast Asia: Essays Presented to Damodar R. Sardesai. Edited by Arnold P. Kaminsky and Roger D. Long. Manohar. New Delhi. 2015.24-64. 
    https://www.amazon.com/Nationalism-Imperialism-South-Southeast-Asia/dp/1138234834
  • Relation between Art and Archaeology: its possibilities in Maritime Studies in India in Searches on Indus Civilization and Maritime Archaeology in India edited by A.S. Gaur and Sundaresh. Agam Kala Prakashan. Delhi. 2015. 111-116.
  • An Analysis of the Concept of Sacredness in Indus Valley Art: Retracing The Roots of the Goddess in Perspectives on the Origin of Indian Civilization edited by Angela Marcantonio. DKPrintworld. New Delhi. 288-304. 2012. https://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Origin-Indian-Civilization-Marcantonio/dp/8124606404 
  • Power and Patronage in the Making of Gandhara Art. The Visual and Performing Arts: An International Anthology: An Introduction edited by Stephen Andrew Arbury. Greece. 269-280. 2012
  • An Aesthetic Experience of Hoysala Architecture: The Influence of the Patron and Artist in Hoysala: A World Heritage in Stone. Kannada Vrinda. Houston. 28-54. 2004.
  • A Dynamic Religious Leader in Rural India: Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala. Charisma and Commitment in South Asian History: Essays Presented to Stanley Wolpert edited by Roger D. Long, pp.367-378. Orient Longman, New Delhi. 367-378. 2004. 
    https://www.amazon.com/Charisma-Commitment-History-Presented-Stanley/dp/812502641X
  • The Heroic Tradition in South Indian Art in Ananya: A Portrait of India edited by S.N. Sridhar and Mattoo. The Association of Indians in America. NewY ork. 523-544. 1997
  • Royal Portraits at Vijayanagara: Identification and Meaning in New Trends in Indian Art and Architecture edited by B.U. Nayak and Ghosh, Aditya Prakashan. New Delhi 349-366. 1992. 
    https://primo.getty.edu/primo-explore/fulldisplay/GETTY_ALMA21122145960001551/GRI
  • The Buddha and Bodhisattva as Rescuers of Seamen. Recent Advances in Marine Archaeology edited by S.R.Rao. National Institute of Oceanography. Goa. 185-187. 1988.
  • Marine Art in India. Marine Archaeology of Indian Ocean Countriesm edited by S.R.Rao.National Institute of Oceanography. Goa. 1988. 93-96
  • Sculpture Under the Chalukyas of Badami. Rangavalli: Recent Researches in Indology edited by A.V. Narasimha Murthy and B.K. Gururaja Rao. Sandeep Prakashan. New Delhi. 1983. 215-224

Teaching Experience

  • 2006-2016, Associate Professor of World Art, Soka University of America, Aliso Viejo, CA. Asian Art, South and S.E. Asian Art, East Asian Art, Indian Archaeology, Modern Art, Modern Architecture, Indian History and Culture, Classical Art, East Asian Painting and Sculpture, Contemporary Visual Culture, Core Courses, Learning Clusters.
  • 2000-06, Assistant Professor of World Art, SUA
  • 1999, Instructor, Asian Art, USC, CA. Asian Art I & II, Art of India and S. E. Asia: Graduate level
  • 1997-98, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Art, University of Hawaii, Hilo. Introduction to Art History, Asian Art, East Asian Art, Western Art, Modern Art.
  • 1997, Consulting Curator for Asian Art. Amarillo Museum of Art, Texas
  • 1996, Instructor, Asian Art, CSULB. Art of India & Southeast Asian Art, Asian Traditions
  • 1995, Instructor, Western Art, CSUN
  • 1994, Instructor, California State University, Long Beach, CA. Indian & Southeast Asian Art I & II; Asian Traditions
  • 1993, Instructor, California State University, Northridge, CA. Advanced Course in Asian Art, Survey of Western Art
  • 1992–94, Instructor, Dept. of Asian American Studies, UCLA. Indo-American Experience.
  • 1992, Lecturer, Art History, UCI. Asian art, later I art Hindu Art & Religion, Islamic Art and Religion, Indian Archaeology
  • 1992, Instructor, Chinese and Japanese Art; Asian History. Woodbury University, Burbank, CA
  • 1990, Instructor, Buddhist Art of India; Art of South East Asia. California State University, Long Beach, CA
  • 1988, Instructor, Art of India; Art of South East Asia California State University, Fullerton, CA
  • 1988, Instructor, Major Art Monuments of India; Art and Architecture of India. University of California, Extension Los Angeles, CA
  • 1982-83, Instructor, Survey of Western Art; Indian Painting. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas
  • 1981-83, Visiting Adjunct Associate Professor of Asian History and Culture. University of Houston, Texas
  • 1977-80, Assistant, Archeological Survey of India, Bangalore, India. Conservation, Excavation, and Curatorial experience
  • 1974-75, Instructor, History, College of Arts and Science, Aurangabad, India.

Museum Experience

  • 2000-2008, Art Gallery, Soka University of America, Ca. Designed, organized world art exhibitions. Marketing, art education talks, co-ordination of artistic, social and cultural activities. Involvement in student art.
  • Curator: Art of the Sindhu- Sarasvati Civilization. Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, 2014
  • Curator: Modern Chinese Painting in Los Angeles. Soka University of America, 2006
  • Curator: Contours of Modernity: An Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art. 2005
  • Designer: Gallery of Indus Script in Sanskrit Vidyapeeth, Tirupati.S. India. 2003
  • Designer, Curator: Weaving the Earth in Harmony: An Exhibition of Native American Art from the Collection of the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art and Photographs by Eugene Lally. Soka University of America. 2003
  • Organizer: Exhibition Bridges to Freedom: One man show by Gerome Gestaldi. Soka University of America. 2001
  • Organizer, Curator: Boundaries and Transformations: Exhibition of South and Southeast Asian Art from the Collection of Dr. Price. Seminar and Events. Amarillo, Texas (1997).
  • 1997, Curator of Asian Art, Amarillo Museum of Art, Amarillo, Texas Cataloging, organizing exhibitions, educational lectures, interpretation
  • 2001, Workshops on Museum Display and Art Education in Paul Getty Museum Ca.
  • 1994, Workshops in CSULB: Web and Art Images
  • 1985-86, Cataloging, Art Images. Dept. of Art History. UCLA.
  • 1975-80, Assistant to Director of Tourism, KSTDC, Bangalore. Training docents, guides.
  • IGNCA Award for Narrative Art in South India, 2014-15.
  • ICAC, Bowers Museum. Award for Presentation, 2011.
  • Kannada Sangha of Arizona, Award of Excellence, 2010.
  • PBRC Award for Research in Indian Art, 2004, 2010.
  • Research Award. University of Hawaii, 1998.
  • PhD Research Award, Dept. of Art History, UCL, 1988.
  • PhD Fellowship, University of Mysore, Mysore, 1978.
  • Merit Scholarship, Marathawada University, Aurangabad, 1973.