Stephen Whiteman holds degrees in art history and East Asian Studies from Brown University, where he earned his AB, and Stanford University, from which he received his MA and PhD. Before joining the faculty at The University of Sydney, Stephen taught art and architectural history of Asia at the University of Pennsylvania, Middlebury College and the University of Colorado. He has been a research fellow in Garden and Landscape Studies at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, DC, and was most recently the A. W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art, also in Washington. His research has also received support from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Study in the Fine Arts and the Chiang-ching Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange.

His current research focuses on the visual culture and built environment of the Qing imperial court during the early 18th century, with a particular interest in the role of gardens and landscape in imperial discourse. Stephen’s teaching, which ranges from surveys of Chinese art and East Asian architecture to the diverse artistic production of modern and contemporary Asia, emphasises close engagement with objects, including frequent visits to exhibitions and museum storage, as well as exhibition and research-based courses.