Thiago Puglieri’s teaching and research are located at the intersections of art history, chemistry, and conservation. His interests are in technical art history and conservation science, focusing on Indigenous cultural heritage from the Americas. His projects delve into the historical and cultural aspects while also exploring scientific and technological advancements within Indigenous cultures. The investigations involve archival research, chemical characterizations, and engagement with Indigenous communities through community-engaged research. Puglieri teaches and supervises graduate and undergraduate students at the Department of Art History and the UCLA/Getty Interdepartmental Program in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage.

Puglieri was a scholar at the Getty Research Institute (GRI, 2024-2025), a visiting researcher at the Getty Conservation Institute (GCI, 2019-2020), a member of the international advisory committee of the project “An International Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science” from NICAS (Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art, and Science), the vice president of ANTECIPA (National Association of Research in Heritage Science and Technology, Brazil), and coordinator of the division “Investigation of Materials, Systems, and Techniques” of the “Technical Commission for Cultural Heritage” of ABENDI (Brazilian Association of Non-Destructive Testing and Inspection).

Prior to joining the Department of Art History at UCLA, he was a professor at the Department of Museology, Conservation, and Restoration of the Federal University of Pelotas (Brazil, 2015-2022), teaching and advising students in the Graduate Program of Social Memory and Cultural Heritage.

His research group’s vision is to establish equity-driven and Indigenous community-centered research models within technical art history and conservation science. They integrate scientific and art historical inquiries with the social sciences and community collaboration. They develop innovative practices that honors diverse knowledge systems, fosters deep respect, and ensures mutual benefits that serve both academic progress and the well-being of descendant communities.

Recently, Puglieri and co-PIs received a US$ 330,000 Getty grant to develop the project “Art, Science, and Traditional Knowledge: Theory and Practice of Interdisciplinary Community-Engaged Art Historical Research” (2026-2028). This project provides comprehensive support for a diverse cohort of nine graduate students (comprising both Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars) to engage in specialized coursework, field research, and collaborative work centered on three traditional Latin American communities. The project utilizes a multidisciplinary model, integrating expertise from art history, archaeology, anthropology, museum studies, conservation science, and traditional knowledge.

Education

Ph.D. Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, 2015

Articles

  • Scientific Publications
  1. Puglieri, T. S.; Ando, R. A.; de Araújo, A. V. S.; Maccarelli, L. “Spectroscopic Investigation of Tikuna Blue: A Still Unknown Colorant from the Amazon Forest.” Studies in Conservation, 2025.
  2. Puglieri, Thiago Sevilhano, and Ellen Pearlstein. The Scientific Investigation of Indigenous Sacred and Ceremonial Items: Ethical Considerations and Community Engagement. In Art Objects and the Scientific Method: Global Perspectives and Practices, edited by Maria Kokkori and Francesca Casadio, Routledge, forthcoming.
  3. Puglieri, T.S.; Maccarelli, L. “Blues from Tikuna/Magüta Masks and a Still Unknown Blue Colorant in Technical Art History and Conservation Science.” Heritage, v. 7, n. 9, p.4697-4711, 2024.
  4. Puglieri, T. S.; Maccarelli, L. “Paint and Coloring Materials from the Brazilian Amazon Forest: Beyond Urucum and Jenipapo.” Heritage, v. 6, n. 8, p. 5883-5898, 2023.
  5. Puglieri, T. S.; Madden, O.; Andrade, G. F. S. “SHINERS in cultural heritage: Can SHINERS spectra always be compared with normal Raman spectra? A study of alizarin and its adsorption in the silicon dioxide shell.” Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, v. 52, n. 8, p. 1406-1417, 2021.
  6. Puglieri, T. S.; Milheira, R. G.; Del Lama, E. A.; Magon, P. M.; Santos, S. S. “Multi-technique investigation of potshards of a cerrito (earthen mound) from southern Brazil.” Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, v. 206, p. 48-56, 2019.
  7. Puglieri, T. S.; Freitas, R. O.; Maia, F. C. B.; Faria, D. L. A. “Synchrotron infrared nano-spectroscopy for nano-speciation of metal corrosion products.” Química Nova, v. 42, n. 9, p. 1050-1055, 2019.
  8. Santos, I. F. S.; Puglieri, T. S.; Barbosa, M. S.; Cardoso, A.; Rosado, T.; Gil, M.; Candeias, A.; Faria, D. L. A. “Chemical aspects in the investigation of some types of efflorescence in cultural assets.” Química Nova, v. 42, n. 9, p. 1056-1065, 2019.
  9. Brandt, J.; Wagner, I.; Puglieri, T. S. Die Skulpturen der ehemaligen Jesuitenmissionen in Paraguay – Mal- und Fasstechniken. In: Emmerling, E.; Gramatke, C. (Org.) “Die polychromen Holzskulpturen der jesuitischen Reduktionen in Paracuaria, 1609 – 1767. Kunsttechnologische Untersuchungen unter Berücksichtigung des Beitrags deutscher Jesuiten”. 1ed. München: TUM, 2019, v. 2, p. 41-70.
  10. Puglieri, T. S.; Ribeiro, D. L.; de Souza, D. V.; Gastaud, C.; Yamasaki, A.; Schneid, P. S. “Teaching of science and heritage education: a methodological fusion for teaching of chemistry, heritage preservation, and scientific popularization.” Ciência & Educação (Bauru), v. 25, n. 2, p. 449-466, 2019.
  11. Faria, D. L. A.; Puglieri, T. S. “Diferenciating reproductions from original paintings: an interesting case study.” Química Nova, v. 39, p. 542-547, 2016.
  12. Puglieri, T. S.; Lavezzo, A. S.; Santos, I. F. S.; Faria, D. L. A. “Investigation on the hazing of a Brazilian contemporary painting.” Spectrochimica Acta. Part A, Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, v. 159, p. 117-122, 2016.
  13. Puglieri, T. S.; Faria, D. L. A.; Cavicchioli, A. “Indoor corrosion of Pb: Effect of formaldehyde concentration and relative humidity investigated by Raman microscopy.” Vibrational Spectroscopy, v. 71,  p. 24-29, 2014.
  14. Bernardino, N. D.; Puglieri, T. S.; Faria, D. L. A. “Effect of MnO2 and α-Fe2O3 on organic binders degradation investigated by Raman spectroscopy.” Vibrational Spectroscopy, v. 70, p. 70-77, 2014.
  15. Faria, D. L. A.; Puglieri, T. S.; Souza, L.A.C. “Metal corrosion in polychrome Baroque lead sculptures: a case study.” Journal of Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 24, p. 1345-1350, 2013.
  16. Faria, D. L. A.; Puglieri, T. S. “An example of Raman microscopy application in the authentication of artworks.” Química Nova, v. 34, p. 1323-1327, 2011.
  17. Faria, D. L. A.; Cavicchioli, A.; Puglieri, T. S. “Indoors lead corrosion: reassessing the role of formaldehyde.” Vibrational Spectroscopy, v. 54,  n. 2, p. 159-163, 2010.
  • In the News, after joining UCLA
  1. March 2026. Project co-led by Thiago Puglieri receives $330,000 Getty grant – UCLA College Humanities. It was also published by the UCLA Art History and the UCLA/Getty Conservation.
  2. December 2025. Indigenous people are partners in this cultural conservation research – UCLA Division of Humanities. Also published by UCLA Newsroom (and UCLA Newsroom Highlight – which is sent to thousands of subscribers on and off campus), UCLA Art History, UCLA/Getty Conservation, and Phys.org. The article was published both in English and Portuguese.
  3. February 2025. “True Blue” – UCLA Magazine. Also published by the Fiat Lux Newsletter (which highlights top stories from across the entire University of California system and is distributed to faculty and staff throughout the UC), UCLA Humanities (https://humanities.ucla.edu/news/true-blue-art-historian-thiago-puglieri/), UCLA Art History, and UCLA/Getty Conservation.
  4. December 2023. Quote at the UCLA College Magazine – Celebrating the College’s first century, session Next 100 years.

Courses

  • Department of Art History
  1. ART HIS 26 Technical Art History: Where the Humanities meet the Physical Sciences (GE)
  2. ART HIS C171/C271 Selected Topics in Museum Studies – Technical Art History (seminar)
  • IDP in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage
  1. CLT HTG 211 Science Fundamentals in Conservation of Materials (seminar)
  2. CLT HTG 216 Science of Conservation Materials and Methods I (seminar)
  3. CLT HTG 210 Cultural Materials Science II: Characterization Methods in Conservation of Materials (seminar)
  4. CLT HTG 210L Cultural Materials Science Laboratory: Technical Study (seminar)

Selected Links