John Baldacchino is Associate Professor in Art and Art Education in the Department of Arts and Humanities at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Baldacchino, a native of Malta, received his PhD in Art Education at the University of Warwick under the supervision of Professor Fred Inglis. In his Doctoral study at Warwick University he engaged in research on realism in the wake of Post-Marxism.Prior to his doctorate Dr. Baldacchino read a Bachelor of Education at the University of Malta, specialising in Studio Art, Art Historical Studies and Art Education. In his first year of his doctoral studies he submitted a dissertation entitled Culture and Aesthetic Identity for which he was awarded a Master of Arts.

In the theoretical realms of art and art education he specializes and lectures on the Philosophies of Art in Education, Ethics and Epistemology of Art and Art Education, Critical and Cultural Theory, Contextual Studies, the Philosophies of Language and Research in Art Education. During the summer terms he also teaches Studio classes.

His interest in Cultural Theory is very much contextualised in his work in Mediterranean studies. This is especially focused on the making of the aesthetic imagination in 20th century arts and literature. This contextual aspect of his work is closely linked to his theoretical application of a pedagogy that is read as a 'formative' ground in terms of thought, polity and the historical imagination. Although most of his research output is currently done in written form, he is still studio-active. His studio interests extend to publishing, typography, and graphic design. He exhibited in solo and collective shows in the UK and overseas and he mostly works in two-dimensional (mixed) media.