Alison Luchs, curator of early European sculpture at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, is the curator of An Antiquity of Imagination: Tullio Lombardo and Venetian High Renaissance Sculpture.

Working in the Gallery's department of sculpture and decorative arts since 1983, she has collaborated on various projects, including two systematic catalogue volumes (1993, 2000), the installation of the new sculpture galleries (2002), and the exhibition Desiderio da Settignano: Sculptor of Renaissance Florence (2007).

Luchs' extensive knowledge of early European art has resulted in numerous publications, including "A Marble Hunting Parting: The Companions of Diana for Marly" (2008); "Two Hercules Sculptures by Cristoforo Solari" (2007); "The Siren of Ca' da Mula" (2005); "The Stones of Prague" (1999); Tullio Lombardo and Ideal Portrait Sculpture in Renaissance Venice, 1490–1530 (1995); "Stained Glass above Renaissance Altars" (1985); an English translation of Martin Wackernagel's World of the Florentine Renaissance Artist: Projects and Patrons, Workshop and Art Market (1981); and "Michelangelo's Bologna Angel" (1978).

Luchs has contributed to The Dictionary of Art and The Encyclopedia of Sculpture. Her recent lectures have focused on Desiderio da Settignano, the courtyard of the Palazzo Ducale, Venice, and hybrid sea creatures in Renaissance bronze. Her book The Mermaids of Venice: Fantastic Sea Creatures in Venetian Renaissance Art is scheduled for publication in late 2009.

Luchs' honors and fellowships include Millard Meiss and Samuel H. Kress Foundation grants (1994) for the publication of Tullio Lombardo and Ideal Portrait Sculpture and the Chester Dale fellowship for dissertation research in Italy (1974–1975). Luchs has twice received the Robert H. Smith Curatorial Fellowship (1988, 1998) and the Ailsa Mellon Bruce Curatorial Sabbatical from the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (1992–1993, 2003–2004).

Prior to her arrival at the Gallery, Luchs taught art history at Swarthmore College and Syracuse University. She received a B.A. at Vassar College (1970) and her Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University (1976).