Smithsonian Journeys Experts

Bryce Beemer has lived, worked, and researched in Southeast Asia for more than seven years, primarily in Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand. His first visit to Thailand was as an exchange student in 1990, and he travelled to Burma only a few years later. Bryce received his PhD in Southeast Asian and World History from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. His research is on cultural exchange with a focus on art, religious practices, dance, theater, and music; and on pre-colonial warfare and slavery. He has published numerous articles on the topic of slavery and cultural exchange and received several awards for original and innovative research.

Bryce has a deep passion for the Southeast Asian arts, artisans, and performers and has incorporated interviews and art historical analysis into his work. He enjoys sharing this passion for Southeast Asian culture and history with others and has delivered lectures on these topics to audiences in the U.S., Thailand, Burma, and India.