Slenka Botello Gil
PhD Student
EmailSlenka Botello is a first-year PhD student in the Department of Art and Architectural History. Originally from Colombia, she joins the program as a Fulbright Scholar, bringing with her a deep passion for exploring the intersections of art, culture, and history. She holds an M.A. in Art Studies from Ibero University in Mexico City and a BA in History from the National University of Colombia.
Her research interests focus on feminist art history in Latin America, and she is particularly interested in examining how the new narratives of feminist art are transforming art history and curatorial practice in Colombia. Her previous research experience has focused on the category of "monstrosity" to analyze European travelers' representations of indigenous South Americans from a decolonial perspective. She has also analyzed the place of demonic and sinful bodies in 18th-century Jesuit Mexican and Colombian art. With a background in art-based research and teaching art history to artists, as well as a deep love for DIY zine projects, Slenka is excited to contribute to the vibrant academic community in Charlottesville.