Gisbert Carbonell de Mesa, Teresa (1926–)

Bolivian architect, educator and historian. Name variations: Teresa Gisbert. Born Nov 11, 1926, in La Paz, Bolivia; m. José de Mesa; children: 4.

Cultural icon and important researcher in history, art and architecture, specializing in Andean region, taught American art and Bolivian culture and art history at University of San Andrés (1954–70, 1972 and 1975); published with husband, Historia de la pintura Cuzqueña (History of Painting in Cuzco, 1962) and Holguín y la pintura vicereinal en Bolivia (Holguín and Viceregal Bolivian Painting, 1977); independent of husband, wrote Iconografía y mitos indíginas en el arte (Indigenous Iconography and Myths in Art, 1980) and went on to publish many other works, including Arte textil y mundo Andino (Textile Art and the Andean World, 1987) and Manual de historia de Bolivia (Handbook of Bolivian History, 1994); taught seminars at many universities, including University of Paris, FLACSO (Latin American Social Science Faculty), Culture Institute in Ecuador, Interamerican University in Puerto Rico and Our Lady of La Paz University; served as visiting scholar at Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities (1990–91, 1993–94); served as director of National Art Museum in La Paz (1970–76), president of Bolivian Society for History (1983–84), director of Bolivian Cultural Institute (1985–89), and president of International Council on Monuments and Sites (1986–92). Named Woman of the Year (La Paz, 1965); received Order of the Condor of the Andes from Bolivian government (1987), National Cultural Award (Bolivia, 1995), and Antonio José de Sucre Prize (shared with Josep Barnadas, 2004) for study and preservation of national heritage.