Theodora Brown takes a multi-sensory approach to nineteenth- and twentieth-century design history, focusing on the experience of smell and the construction of fragrances. She is particularly interested in how olfactive art functions as a designed material. She also specializes in Slavic and Eastern European design history, taking a decolonial approach to Soviet material culture. Before attending Bard Graduate Center, Brown obtained a BA in global studies from Arizona State University, and worked as a grassroots organizer for both electoral and issue-based campaigns. She worked with the public humanities and research department at BGC and hopes to continue to center community-oriented research in her work. She lives in New York City.

Qualifying Paper: Public Displays of Olfaction: Eugène Rimmel’s Perfumed Fountains, Almanacs, and Vaporizers

Digital Project: Fantastika Features: Reading The Viy through Soviet films

Internship: Olfactory Art Keller