Dr Paul Donnelly
Dr Paul Donnelly is a curator in the design and society department at the Powerhouse Museum. His more than twenty years at the Museum have seen his responsibilities at the Museum meander to embrace Australian ceramics and glass, ceramics of Europe and the Mediterranean region (pre 1700), numismatics, antiquities, and, most recently, 20th century furniture. Describing himself as ‘bordering on the dilettante’ in some areas, he nevertheless sees vigour and many positives in the diversity of media and depth of historical range over which his research and responsibilities span.
Paul’s exhibitions include; ‘Treasures from the Benaki Museum in Athens’ (2005), ‘Beirut to Baghdad’ (2003), ‘1000 Years of the Olympic Games’ (2000), and ‘Convict Love Tokens’ (1997), as well as contributions to other exhibitions including; ‘Other Histories: Guan Wei’s fable for a contemporary world’ (2007), ‘Inspired! Decorative arts and design’ (2005), ‘Pathways through Paradise’ (2004), and ‘Arts of South East Asia’ (2001). His publications include books, chapters, forewords, and articles in a range of local and international journals.
Paul graduated with a BA (Hons) in archaeology from the University of Sydney, an MA in Public History from the University of Technology of Sydney, and a PhD from Sydney University which focussed on fine ware pottery from Bronze-Age Western Asia (modern-day Jordan, Syria, Israel, and the Palestinian Territories). Since 1988 Paul has been a core member of the Sydney University Expedition to Pella in Jordan. In 2008 his research brought him to Syria.