Curator of European, Near Eastern, and Asian Ethnology
Research anthropologist (researcher) at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History; Curator of Asian, European, and Middle Eastern Ethnology; and head of that museum’s Asian Cultural History Program. An author or editor of numerous books and scholarly articles on the ethnography, ethnobiology, linguistic anthropology, and art or material culture of Asia; curator of twenty-one museum exhibitions (including five online virtual exhibitions); and anthropologist consultant for ethnographic films.
PAUL MICHAEL TAYLOR, a research anthropologist at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, is head of that museum's Asian Cultural History Program, and serves as Curator of Asian, European, and Middle Eastern Ethnology. He has written or edited many books and numerous scholarly articles on the ethnography, ethnobiology, languages, and art (or material culture) of Asia. He has also curated twenty-one museum exhibitions (including five on-line virtual exhibitions). Outside his Smithsonian work he previously served as Senior Consultant to the World Bank Inspection Panel for social safeguard policies; and also as the Director of Ethnographic Film Development for Essential TV (Overseas) Ltd to develop twelve documentary anthropological films. During his studies of rural social, ecological, and poverty-alleviation issues, and his work on documentary films, he lived for over four years in small tribal or rural villages of Southeast Asia. The recipient of numerous international grants and awards, he has served on the Board of Directors of the Association for Asian Studies, and has been a longtime member of the Smithsonian’s Asian-Pacific American Heritage Committee. He has worked closely with many individuals and community organizations to establish “Heritage” projects at the Smithsonian, including the Smithsonian’s Sikh Heritage project, Korean Heritage, Heritage of Thailand, Taiwan Heritage, and others.
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2021. "Türkmenler Myhmansöýer Halk [= "Grateful for the Hospitality of the Turkmen People"]." Edebiýat we Sungat [=Turkmen newspaper, "Literature and Art"], 3–3. (June 11, 2021),
2021
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2020. "The Importance of Archival Study for Crafts Research in Legacy Museum Collections." in Kazakhstan's Crafts and Creative Economy: Proceedings of an International Symposium, edited by Taylor, Paul Michael and Shalabayeva, Gulmira., 18-27. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts.
2020
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2020. "The Legacy of an International Partnership: Kazakhstan and the Smithsonian." ,
2020
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2020. "การสนับสนุนอันนาไปสู่การค้นพบใหม่ในห้องสมุดและวัตถุมรดกทางวัฒนธรรม." TLA Research Journal: The Journal of the Thai Library Association = วารสารวิจัยสมาคมห้องสมุดแห่งประเทศไทย [Warasān wičhai Samākhom Hō̜ngsamut hǣng Prathēt Thai], 29–57. 13, (2), Bangkok, Thailand: TLA Research Journal: The Journal of the Thai Library Association.
2020
Marino, Cesare, Pontsioen, Robert, and Taylor, Paul Michael. 2019. "Red Cloud, Dog Child, and the "Long Knife" of the Samurai in Indian Country." Tribal Arts 23 (2):106-123.
2019
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2019. "Sikh Art and Devotion in the Collection of Parvinder S. Khanuja." Arts of Asia 1 (49):107-116.
2019
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2018. "Ancestral Plaited Mats from Madagascar." Arts & Cultures [English edition] 2018:210-223.
2018
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2018. "Les nattes tressées ancestrales de Madagascar." Arts & Cultures [French language edition] 2018:210-223.
2018
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2018. "Newly Discovered Correspondence (1853-1868) from King Mongkut, Rama IV, and from Phra Pinklao, to Sir John Bowring and his son Edgar Bowring." Journal of the Siam Society 106:1-44.
2018
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2018. "Reinterpreting King Chulalongkorn's Royal Gift of Theatrical Images at Philadelphia's 1876 Centennial Exposition." Arts Of Asia 48 (3):114-124.
2018
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2017. "Exhibiting the Kapany Collection: Observations on the Transformation of Sikh Art and Material Culture in Museums." in Sikh Art from the Kapany Collection, edited by Taylor, Paul M. and Dhami, Sonia., 286-309. The Sikh Foundation.
2017
Taylor, Paul Michael and Smith, William Bradford. 2017. "Instruments of Diplomacy: Nineteenth-century Musical Instruments in the Smithsonian Collection of Thai Royal Gifts." Journal of the Siam Society 105:245-272.
2017
Taylor, Paul Michael and Merrion, Trevor Loomis. 2016. "L'art du Turkménistan: Inspirations tribales et indigènes." Arts & Cultures 110-123.
2016
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2016. "Sikh Material Heritage and Sikh Social Practice in a Museum-Community Partnership: The Smithsonian's Sikh Heritage Project." Sikh Research Journal 1 (1):
2016
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2016. "Smithsonian Naturalist William Louis Abbott's Turkestan Expedition of 1893 and 1894." Central Asiatic Journal 59 (1):255-276. https://doi.org/10.13173/centasiaj.59.1-2.02552016
Taylor, Paul Michael and Merrion, Trevor Loomis. 2016. "Tribal and Indigenous Inspirations in the Arts of Turkmenistan." Arts & Cultures 110-123.
2016
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2015. "Durdy Bayramov's Photographs as Visual Documents of Cultural History." in Through the Eyes of Durdy Bayramov: Turkmen Village Life, 1960s-1980s, edited by Bayramova, Keyik, Pontsioen, Robert, and Balayeva, Jeren., 7-8. Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation.
2015
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2015. "Thailand's 'Chow Pah Negritos' (Maniq) in 1897 and 1899: Smithsonian Records of W.L. Abbott's Expeditions to the Trang-Phatthalung Border Highlands." Journal of the Siam Society 103:161-182.
2015
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2015. "William Louis Abbott in Madagascar: Revisiting Archival and Museum Resources of a Smithsonian Naturalist from the 1890s." Museum Anthropology 38 (1):28-45. https://doi.org/10.1111/muan.120712015
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2014. "Transformations of the Expeditionary Enterprise: Perspectives on the Smithsonian's Expeditionary History before 1948." reCollections: A Journal of Museums and Collections (Austrailian National Museum) 9 (2):
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael and Merrion, Trevor Loomis. 2014. "Turkmen "gobelin" or pictorial tapestries." Arts of Asia 142-153.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2014. "William Louis Abbott in Thailand: A Research Resource on Southern Thailand in the 1890s." Journal of the Siam Society 102:143-168.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2013. "In Celebration of Hangul Day 2013: The Accessible Calligraphy of “Mook Jae” Kwon Myoung-won." in Celebrating Hangul’s 567th Anniversary: Come on in, the Door is Open: An exhibition of Hangul Calligraphy by Kwon, Myoung Won, 3-4. Korean Cultural Center.
2013
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2012. "Introduction: Perspective's on the Punjab's Most Meaningful Heirlooms." in Sikh Heritage: Ethos and Relics, edited by Singh, Bhayee Sikandar and Singh, Roopinder., viii-xi. Rupa.
2012
Taylor, Paul Michael and Maynard, David. 2011. "Archaeological Excavations on the BTC Pipeline, Azerbaijan." Internet Archaeology (29):
2011
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2011. "For Washingtonians, the Global Gets a Local Welcome: Four Artists Intersect at Washington D.C.’s Korean Cultural Center." in Peace: A Four-Artist Invitational Exhibit at the Korean Cultural Center, Washington DC., edited by Kwon, Myoung-won., 7-7. Korean Art International Exchange Association and Korean Cultural Center.
2011
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2011. "Foreword." in Symbols of Identity: Korean Ceramics from the Collection of Chester and Wanda Chang, edited by Lotis, Christopher and Lee, Michel D., 6-6. Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution.
2011
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2007. "Congratulatory Message." in Washington Korea Festival 2007, 4. The Korea Foundation.
2007
audio-visual document
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2010. Welcoming Message in: Sound of Korea: Celebration of Korean American Day, January 13, 2010, Pt. 2, 6:30 - 8:30 pm. 2010
book
Taylor, Paul Michael, Bekkerman, Sonya, and Kovalyov, Marina. 2019. [Exhibition catalog] Central Asian Arts: Treasure Troves of Inspiration and Design. Russian American Foundation.
2019
Taylor, Paul Michael and Khazbulatov, Andrey. 2018. Artists of Modern Kazakhstan. Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Kazakh Research Institute of Culture.
2018
Taylor, Paul Michael and Kwon, Myoung-won,. 2018. [Exhibition catalog] Han'gŭl ŭl kŭrida : Sejong Taewang chŭgwi 600-chunyŏn kinyŏm = A Korean-American Pioneer of Art: The Calligrapher Mook Jae and his Homelands. National Hangeul Museum.
2018
Bayramova, Keyik, Pontsioen, Robert, Balayeva, Jeren, and Taylor, Paul Michael. 2017. Durdy Bayramov: Life, Art, and Legacy. Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation.
2017
Pyragy, Magtymguly and Taylor, Paul Michael. 2014. Magtymguly: Poems from Turkmenistan. Asian Cultural History Program.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael and Pontsioen, Robert. 2014. Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab. Asian Cultural History Program.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael, Merrion, Trevor, Waugh-Quasebarth, Jasper, and Pontsioen, Robert. 2014. Undiscovered Art from the Korean War: Explorations in the Collection of Chester and Wanda Chang. Asian Cultural History Program.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael, Merrion, Trevor Loomis, Smith, William Bradford, and Quasebarth, Jasper Waug. 2013. Turkmenistan: Arts from the Land of Magtymguly= Türkmenistan : Magtymgulynyn mekanyndan sungat. Asian Cultural History Program.
2013
Taylor, Paul Michael, Polglase, Christopher R., Museyibli, Najaf, Koller, Jared M., and Johnson, Troy A. 2011. Past and future heritage in the pipelines corridor: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey = Boru kämärläri dählizindä keçmis vä gäläcäk irs: Azärbaycan, Gürcüstan, Türkiyä. Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution.
2011
Taylor, Paul Michael, Polglase, Christoper R., Museyibli, Najaf, Koller, Jared M., and Johnson, Troy A. 2011. Past and future heritage in the pipelines corridor: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey = Kulturuli memkvidreobis zeglebi milsadenebis derep`ansi, carsuli da momavali: Azerbaijani, Sak`art`velo, T`urk`et`i. Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution.
2011
Taylor, Paul Michael, Merrion, Trevor Loomis, Waugh-Quasebarth, Jasper, and Smith, William Bradfor. 2011. Turkmenistan: Ancient Arts Today. Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution.
2011
Taylor, Paul Michael and Lotis, Christophe. 2008. Flagship of a Fleet: A Korea Gallery Guide. Asian Cultural History Program, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.
2008
chapter
Taylor, Paul Michael and Dhami, Sonia. 2022. "Collecting the Arts of the Punjab: Art and Identity for the Sikh Diaspora in Singapore and Beyond." In Sikhs in Singapore -- A Story Untold. Yong, Tan Tai, editor. 18–347. Singapore: Indian Heritage Centre.
2022
Taylor, Paul Michael and Shalabayeva, Gulmira. 2020. "Introduction." in Kazakhstan's Crafts and Creative Economy, edited by Taylor, Paul Michael and Shalabayeva, Gulmira., 5-11. Kasteyev State Museum of Arts.
2020
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2019. "Introduction." in The Japji of Guru Nanak: A New Translation with Commentary (by) Rupinder S. Brar, 6-14. Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution.
2019
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2018. "A Korean-American Pioneer of Art: The Calligrapher Mook Jae and his Homelands." in Han'gŭl ŭl kŭrida : Sejong Taewang chŭgwi 600-chunyŏn kinyŏm = A Korean-American Pioneer of Art: The Calligrapher Mook Jae and his Homelands, 1-5. National Hangeul Museum.
2018
Taylor, Paul Michael and Dhami, Sonia. 2017. "Introduction: Art By, For, or About the Sikhs." in Sikh Art from the Kapany Collection, edited by Taylor, Paul M. and Dhami, Sonia., 8-15. The Sikh Foundation.
2017
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2017. "The Artistic Legacy of Durdy Bayramov: A New Museum's Important Mission." in Durdy Bayramov: Life, Art, and Legacy, edited by Bayramova, Keyik, Pontsioen, Robert, and Balayeva, Jeren., 208-214. Durdy Bayramov Art Foundation.
2017
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2015. "Current Research about the Ethnography of Chokan Valikhanov, and about Turkic or Central Asian Cultural History and Cultural Memories, at the Asian Cultural History Program of the Smithsonian Institution." in Kazakhting uly ghalymy, tarikhshy, etnograf, saiakhatshy zhene aghartushy Sh. Ualikhanovtyng 180 zhyldygyna arnalghan “Shokan Okulary-19” Khalykaralik ghylymi-tezhiribelik konferentsiia: Materialdary, 17-18 seuir (Tom 1), edited by Abzhapparov, A. A., 284-288. Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Kokshetau State University.
2015
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2015. "The Presentation of Historical Materials about Kazakhstan in Online Formats: Observations on the Occasion of the Celebration of the 550th Anniversary of the Kazakh Khanate." in "From the Kazakh Khanate to independent Kazakhstan" international research and practice conference: Proceedings May 22-23, 2015, 13-18. Institute of State History, Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences.
2015
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2014. "Exploring the Scientific and Artistic Legacy of Chokan Valikhanov (1835-1865), in Partnership with Kazakhstan's Museums." in Proceedings of the International Conference "Abylai Khan and His Historical Epoch in Kazakhstan", edited by Abyev, K. K., 25-32. Kokshetau State University.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2014. "Past and Present: Revising Ancient "Hyangga" Poetry for Audiences Today." in Scent of the Ancient: Invitational Exhibition Celebrating Hangul's 568th Anniversary, edited by Kwon Myoung-won., 4-5. Korean Cultural Center.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2014. "Preface to the English Translation." in Magtymguly: Poems from Turkmenistan, edited by Taylor, Paul Michael., 10-12. Asian Cultural History Program.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael and Pontsioen, Robert. 2014. "Retooling Traditions." in Tools: Extending Our Reach, edited by McQuaid, Matilda and McCarty, Cara., 64-67. Cooper-Hewitt Museum.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2014. "The Online Publication of Archaeological Records and Other Archival and Museum Collections on Cultural Heritage." in "Experience of Turkmenistan in Research and Museumification of Archeological Findings". Abstract of Reports of the International Scientific Conference (November 12-14, 2014), 9-11. Turkmenistan Ministry of Culture.
2014
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2013. "The World’s Biggest Dream, and its “Biggest Painting"." in The Biggest Painting in the World, in Washington D.C., Oct. 27th – Nov. 3rd, 2013, 5. Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education and Korean Heritage Foundation.
2013
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2011. "Pipelines to Cultural Heritage: An Introduction." in Pipelines to Cultural Heritage: Proceedings of an International Workshop (April 20-23, 2010, Baku, Azerbaijan), edited by Taylor, Paul Michael., 1-6. Asian Cultural History Program, Smithsonian Institution.
2011
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2010. "The Korean Calligraphy of Sandol Cho Young-Sun." in Harmony with Korean calligraphy & cuisine, 3. Korean Cultural Service.
2010
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2010. "Welcoming Message." in Maedeup: Traditional Korean Ornamental Knots :Exhibition & Demonstrations by Master Knot Maker Eunyoung Kim, 4. Korus House (and) U.S.-Korea Arts Foundation.
2010
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2009. "Science, Tradition, and Innovation in the Contemporary Museum: Perspectives from a Museum Partnership Between the United States of America and Kazakhstan." in Sovremennyi Muzei: Nayka. Traditsii. Innovatsii : Materialy Mezhdunarodnoi nauchnoi-prakticheskoi konferentsii, 13-18. Qazakstan Respublikasy Tungghush Muzeii Sovremennyi.
2009
Taylor, Paul Michael and Ian, N. Parker. 2007. "Cac chu'o'ng trinh tao tac tronh viec ho tro phat trien bao tang, dien hinh la chu'o'ng trinh van hoa lich su chau a cua Smithsonian." in Ky Yeu Hoi Thao Quoc Te : phat trien bao tang lich su tu nhien thanh pho Ho Chi Minh, Ngay 12-15.9.2007, 235-246. Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations (and) Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.
2007
Taylor, Paul Michael, Houchins, Chang-Su, and Kim, Hee-soo. 2007. "The Korea Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History." in Washington Korea Festival 2007, 10-32. The Korea Foundation.
2007
Taylor, Paul Michael and Koller, Jared M. 2012. "Web-enriched heritage in the pipelines corridor: contested histories from the Caspian to the Mediterranean." In , April 11-14, 2012,2012
Taylor, Paul Michael. 2018. "Royal Gifts from Thailand: Selected Masterpieces from Thailand's Royal Gifts to the United States of America." Royal Gifts from Thailandhttp://www.siam-society.org/smithsonian/sm_index.html.
2018
Taylor, Paul Michael, Polglase, Christopher R., Koller, Jared M., and Johnson, Troy A. 2010. "AGT: Ancient Heritage in the BTC-SCP Pipelines Corridor – Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey." http://www.agt.si.edu.
2010