Pascal James Imperato is a distinguished Africanist, African art historian, and ethnographer. He is internationally respected for his studies of the Bamana, Dogon, and Peul peoples of Mali, based on field-research conducted over many years. He is also well known for his studies of the Luo of Tanzania and the colonial era history of northern Kenya. His books include Dogon Cliff Dwellers. The Art of Mali’s Mountain People (1978), Legends, Sorcerers and Enchanted Lizards. Door Locks of the Bamana of Mali (2001), Quest for the Jade Sea. Colonial Competition around an East African Lake (1998), and African Mud Cloth. The Bogolanfini Art Tradition of Gneli Traoré of Mali (2006). He co-edited, with Leonard Kahan and Donna Page, Surfaces. Color, Substances, and Ritual Applications on African Sculpture (2009).
In 2012, he co-authored with his son, Gavin H. Imperato, BUNDU. Sowei Headpieces of the Sande Society of West Africa. He co-authored with his son, Austin C. Imperato, Victor Forestier Sow. A Pioneer Malian Painter (2014). Both were catalogues that accompanied QCC Art Gallery exhibitions of the same names for which he and his respective sons served as co-curators. In 2017 he authored the catalogue and curated the QCC Art Gallery exhibition, Traditional African Art. Selections from the Liren Wei Collection.
Dr. Imperato is a highly accomplished public health physician and a specialist in internal medicine and tropical diseases. His diverse career has included combatting lethal communicable diseases in West and East Africa, and serving as Commissioner of Health of New York City. He is currently Distinguished Service Professor, Founding Dean of the School of Public Health, and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the State University of New York, Downstate Health Sciences University in New York City. He is the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Meritorious Honor Award and Medal of the U.S. Department of State for his work in Mali and Honorary Doctor of Science degrees from Tulane University and St. John’s University.