Mackenzie McDonald

American art historian and ceramic artist based in Rome. Holds a BFA in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University (magna cum laude, 2022) and an MA in Art History from John Cabot University, Rome (2025). She completed a curatorial internship in the Department of Decorative Arts at the Vatican Museums (2025–2026) and worked as a researcher at John Cabot University, contributing to projects focused on the historic sites of Rome.

Her scholarly research and studio practice are closely connected through a shared interest in decorative arts, historical maiolica, and the relationship between objects, architecture, and space. Her current research examines the Renaissance maiolica pavements of the Apostolic Palace, particularly those within the “Camere Secrete” of the Borgia Apartment complex — considering maiolica as both a global commodity and an architectural element that shapes visitors' movement and experience of interior space. Her broader areas of expertise also include Renaissance papal patronage, Vatican and Apostolic Palace architecture, material culture methodology, and Baroque art and architecture, with particular interest in Bernini, Caravaggio, and Borromini.

Alongside her academic research, McDonald maintains an active studio practice as a ceramic artist, creating contemporary work that engages with the visual language and material traditions of historical ceramics.