JOHN WILLIAM BAILLY
Born: 1968 in Slough, UK
Education: MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Yale University School of Art
Education: BA in Art History from CARTA of Florida International University
email: baillyj@fiu.edu
John Bailly is both a Destination and a Special Interest speaker. To book John please contact Blackburn International
John William Bailly is a British-French-American artist, professor, and public speaker based in Miami and Lyon. John was born in the UK, of an American mother and French father. He received his MFA from Yale University, his BA in Art History from FIU, and has been a professor in the Honors College at Florida International University in Miami since 2003. For over fifteen years, he was the Faculty Director of study abroad to France, Italy, and Spain. Between semesters, he now lectures on cruise ships throughout the world. John has earned multiple awards for his art and teaching, including two Excellence in Teaching awards, and was named the inaugural McCormick Fellow Artist-in-Residence at the Deering Estate. “In-Situ”, a 2023 film by Jorge Gonzalez-Graupera about John’s art and life, won two Emmys.
John has been contracted on Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Ponant Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
UPCOMING AND PAST CRUISES WITH JOHN – See the future cruises that John will speak on and review the past cruises that he presented on.
BAILLY TALK LIST
This list is organized into three sections. The first features comprehensive presentations on the culture and history of specific destinations. The second highlights lectures focused primarily on the art history of individual cities and countries. The third consists of Special Interest talks addressing broader thematic subjects.
1. DESTINATION TALKS: CULTURE, HISTORY, AND FOOD
JOHN BAILLY: AMSTERDAM, THE SAFE HAVEN
Amsterdam is unlike any other city, shaped by its historic canals, renowned museums, and street food culture. Join Prof. John Bailly to explore how Dutch identity fueled artistic innovation, economic independence, and social freedoms, forming a major cultural and financial center.
JOHN BAILLY: BARCELONA, CITY OF FIRE
Explore Barcelona’s art, cuisine, and history with Prof. John Bailly. From the vibrant Boqueria Market to Gaudí’s Sagrada Família, discover iconic landmarks, enduring traditions, and local treasures that show how this dynamic city shapes Mediterranean and global culture.
JOHN BAILLY: BRITANNIA, ECHOES OF THE PAST
Explore the art and history of the British Isles with Prof. John Bailly. From Stonehenge to the Govan Stones in Glasgow and from King Arthur to Henry V, trace empires, art, and identity. Discover how Britania shaped global culture—and how English became a world language.
JOHN BAILLY: CROATIA, LAND OF A THOUSAND ISLANDS
Explore the history of Croatia with John Bailly. From the Amphitheater of Pula to the Medieval Walls of Dubrovnik, trace the rise and fall of empires, republics, and cities. Discover how conflict forged identity in the Land of a Thousand Islands.
JOHN BAILLY: GREECE, ECHOES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD
Athens, Mykonos, Olympia, Santorini—lands steeped in myth. Explore Ancient Greece’s art, history, and mythology with Prof. John Bailly. From Athens’ Acropolis to Olympia’s stadium and Delos’ Lions, discover how 2,500 years of Greek culture continue to shape our world.
JOHN BAILLY: IRELAND, THE EMERALD ISLE
Join Prof. John Bailly for a lecture on Ireland’s history through art—from Newgrange to Cork. Featuring figures like Oscar Wilde and Harry Clarke, discover how culture, design, and history shape the identity of the Emerald Isle.
JOHN BAILLY: ISTANBUL, CITY OF A HUNDRED NAMES
John Prof. John Bailly to explore Istanbul, once called Dersaadet, the “Gate to Prosperity.” Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and now Turkish, the city reveals layered civilizations embodied in the majestic Hagia Sophia, where empires, faiths, and cultures converge.
JOHN BAILLY: MIAMI, THE MAGIC CITY
Relive the story of Miami with Prof. John Bailly. The Magic City stands at the crossroads of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres, and of the Caribbean and North America. Its dynamic fusion of cultures has forged a singular identity, making Miami unlike any other city in the world.
JOHN BAILLY: NORWAY, LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Journey from Ålesund to Stavanger through Norway’s culture and history with Prof. John Bailly. From Viking legends to Munch’s The Scream, discover revealing insights and lesser-known stories about the figures who shaped the nation and defined its enduring cultural legacy.
JOHN BAILLY: PORTUGAL, BEAUTIFUL AND BLISSFUL
Journey through Lisbon and Porto with Prof. John Bailly. Explore Alfama and Baixa, savor sardines, vinho verde, and pastéis de nata, and trace Portugal’s rise from medieval kingdom to maritime empire—Vasco da Gama, global trade routes, and discoveries that reshaped the world.
JOHN BAILLY: ROME, THE ETERNAL CITY
Join Prof. John Bailly to explore Rome’s layered culture and history. From Julius Caesar to Saint Peter, discover Rome’s transformation from Republic to Empire to Papal State. Stand in the Forum and climb St Peter’s dome—discovering why the Eternal City still shapes the world.
JOHN BAILLY: VENICE, THE FLOATING CITY
Explore the canals and secrets of Venice with John Bailly. Unpack the symbolism of St Mark’s Basilica, discover the forest beneath the Serenissima, and witness the maritime republic’s rise. From landmarks to hidden corners, see why Venice is famously “married to the sea.”
2. DESTINATION TALKS: CULTURAL OVERVIEW OF THE DESTINATIONS
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF BRITAIN
Discover the unique identity of British painting-an art that is simultaneously representational and abstract with John Bailly. From Turner to Hockney, by way of Constable and Brown, British painting emphasizes a Romantic bond with nature and the craft of painting.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF BUDDHISM
Buddhism is both religion and philosophy. Join John Bailly as he traces the life of the Buddha through artworks spanning 2,500 years. From Tibet to Tokyo, via Bangkok and Hong Kong, encounter seminal masterpieces and decode the symbols shaping Buddhist thought.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF EAST ASIA
Traverse the tapestry of East Asian culture, examining its art, history, and philosophy with John Bailly. From ancient sculpture to refined traditions of printmaking, East Asian artistic innovations transformed global visual culture, reshaping subject matter and technique.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF EAST ASIA IN PARIS
Discover the impact of East Asian art on Modern Art with John Bailly. Chinese painting and Japanese printmaking reshaped composition, perspective, and color in Paris. Van Gogh even claimed to see with a “Japanese eye,” signaling a radical shift in European vision.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF ENGLAND
Discover the unique identityEnglish painting-an art that is simultaneously representational and abstract with Prof. John Bailly. From Turner to Hockney, by way of Constable and Brown, British painting emphasizes a Romantic bond with nature and the craft of painting.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF ICELAND AND IRELAND
Trace a cultural arc from Cork to Reykjavik through the art and architecture of Northwestern Europe with Prof. John Bailly. From Viking voyages to the wit of Oscar Wilde, discover unexpected connections, historical context, and the figures who shaped the region’s cultural legacy.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF JAPAN
Discover Japan’s art history through prehistoric Jōmon clay figurines, Buddhist sculpture, ukiyo-e prints, and contemporary manga. Examine how religious beliefs, court culture, urban life, and modern media shaped Japan’s evolving visual traditions.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF MIAMI
Witness the dramatic expansion of Miami’s art world with Prof. John Bailly. Positioned between North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe, Miami has become a cultural nexus reflecting global exchange, migration, and the evolving dynamics of the contemporary art world.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF MOROCCO & SPAIN
Enjoy an introduction to the cultural landscapes of Morocco and Spain with Prof. John Bailly. From the splendor of Islamic art to the innovations of Picasso, and from couscous to tapas, this lecture traces the intersections of art, cuisine, and history shaping these regions.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF NORTHERN EUROPE
Journey from Bruges to Delft to Amsterdam with Prof. John Bailly, highlighting Northern Europe’s artistic masters. From Rembrandt to van Gogh, see how the rise of humanism, international trade, and technical innovation fueled a golden age that transformed Western art.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF SPAIN
Explore how Spanish artists embody the national motto Plus Ultra (“Further Beyond”) with Prof. John Bailly. From Roman Hispania and Islamic Al-Andalus to Velázquez and Picasso, Spain’s art has driven cultural innovation, revealing bold identities and transformative creativity.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF THE ADRIATIC
Retrace the development of Adriatic art with John Bailly. From ancient Greek settlements to contemporary cities, discover how artists on the frontier between Eastern and Western Europe created works that reflect the region’s cultural identity.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF THE RENAISSANCE
Florence—small in scale, vast in cultural and scientific influence. Explore the Renaissance with Prof John Bailly. From Sandro Botticelli to Michelangelo, and from the Uffizi Gallery to the Galleria dell’Accademia, uncover Tuscany’s art—and perhaps Europe’s best sandwich.
JOHN BAILLY: VENICE AS ARTISTIC INSPIRATION
Discover the unique identity of Venetian painting with John Bailly. From the Gallerie dell’Accademia to La Biennale, by way of Titian, Canaletto, and Monet, explore the artworks from Venice that transformed the format, texture, and color of painting.
3. SPECIAL INTEREST TALKS: SPECIALIZED TALKS FOR ANY CRUISE
JOHN BAILLY: ARE WE ROME?
Explore the parallels between ancient Rome and the modern world with Prof. John Bailly. Through vivid stories and analysis, discover how Roman law, language, engineering, and culture still shape our lives. Are we modern Romans without knowing it? Do all roads still lead to Rome?
JOHN BAILLY: ART IS IMMORTAL
Can art stop time? Embark on a journey to explore the timeless and transcendent nature of art with Prof. John Bailly. From Egyptian Queen Nefretiti to Italian Mona Lisa, explore how creativity, narrative, and historical context shape our understanding of art—and immortality.
JOHN BAILLY: ART OF THE MODERN WORLD
Witness the dramatic cultural revolution of Modern Art with Prof. John Bailly. From Monet to Picasso, via van Gogh and Matisse, the Belle Époque became the setting where radical artists transformed aesthetics and redefined art’s role in modern society.
JOHN BAILLY: FROM EAST ASIA TO THE WORLD
From the Silk Road to modern innovation, discover East Asia’s profound global impact on food, finance, navigation, printmaking, sport, warfare, and philosophy. Explore how East Asian ideas and inventions have shaped cultures and transformed life around the world.
JOHN BAILLY: GLOBAL INFLUENCES IN MODERN ART
Explore cross-cultural currents in Modern Art with Prof. John Bailly. From Maison Cartier and Islamic art to Picasso and African art, by way of Matisse in Morocco and van Gogh looking to Japan—discover how cultural exchange reshaped artistic vision.
JOHN BAILLY: MUSEUMS, MONUMENTS, & STREET FOOD
Prof. John Bailly shares his favorite European museums, monuments, and street foods, offering tips to maximize cultural adventures. Enter the Louvre through the back door, savor artichokes in Rome’s Jewish Quarter, find the Secret Room in Naples, and discover other local secrets.
JOHN BAILLY: THE CRUISE LIFE
Set your clocks, get all your maps, and speak every language. Join John Bailly for this light-hearted survival guide for cruising and exploring ports. From museums and nature trails to street food, learn how to maximize every port day by finding secret gems. All aboard!
JOHN BAILLY: THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST
John Bailly recounts his unpredictable artistic journey—from working minimum wage as a stockboy to starring in an Emmy-winning documentary—sharing stories of humbling setbacks, unexpected successes, and the lessons learned along the path of a life devoted to art.
JOHN BAILLY: TRANSATLANTIC EXCHANGE
Explore how the Transatlantic Exchange reshaped the world with Prof. John Bailly. The Eastern and Western hemispheres transformed global food, nature, and culture—by introducing unknown species and ideas. Two worlds merged, creating the interconnected tapestry of a New World.
JOHN BAILLY: TRANSPACIFIC EXCHANGE
Discover how Magellan’s crossing of the Pacific Ocean impacted world history. See how the Americas transformed Asia in both small and seismic ways with John Bailly. From Amazonian deserts to Peruvian staples, the impact of the Americas is both profound and surprising.
LAST UPDATE
27 August 2026
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Bailly Lectures 