Art curators deal with the organizational aspects of an art exhibition. They are responsible for defining the content of the event, choosing the works to be exhibited and the location.
But that’s not all. Those who choose to undertake this profession must know that the commitments do not end in the logistical sphere. In fact, it is important not only to be rigorous and responsible but also to be a skilled communicator. Forging relationships and cultivating them is one of the factors that contribute to the success of an art curator.
Last but not least, it is necessary to be extremely up to date on the world of art. One must be able to immerse oneself completely in this universe – reading books, leafing through catalogs, looking for new talents – a true art curator never rests on their accumulated knowledge or achievements.
In this article, we will introduce you to six Spanish art curators.
Agustín Pérez Rubio
Born in Valencia in 1972, Agustín Pérez Rubio is an art historian, critic and curator. Formerly chief curator and director of the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MUSAC), Pérez Rubio is currently involved with various committees in museums and art institutions, such as CIMAM, AICA and IKT. He has curated over 70 exhibitions in different national and international institutions (including the MNCARS at the Venice Biennale), as well as giving lectures and seminars in collaboration with institutions in Paris (Centre Pompidou) and New York (ICI).
In addition to being an independent curator, he is currently one of the curators of the 11th Berlin Biennial (2020). He works in research for museums, art centers, galleries and institutions on projects that debate issues related to language, as well as studies that attempts to deepen the understanding of artists who create a political discourse on gender.
Chus Martínez
Chus Martinez is a reputable curator who began her career as an independent curator and director of programming at Sala Rekalde in Bilbao. She was soon elected director of the Frankfurter Kunstverein, becoming the first woman to hold this position in the 150-year history of the renowned art center.
The current director of the Art Institute of the Academy of Art and Design in Basel, Martinez has had a very impressive career to date. She has been chief curator at both MACBA in Barcelona and El Museo del Barrio in New York, as well as head of department and member of the Core Agent Group at dOCUMENTA (13). Moreover, she participated in the 2005 Venice Biennale, while also acting as curatorial advisor to both Carnegie International and the 29th São Paulo Biennale. With a large number of exhibitions curated, critical essays for catalogs written, and collaborations with international magazines, Chus boasts an envious resume.
Carles Guerra
Carles Guerra is an independent Catalan artist, critic and curator. Known mainly for having been the director of the Tàpies Foundation in Barcelona, he has curated exhibitions for both the MACBA and CCCB, as well as collaborating with different national and international art magazines. He is also an associate professor at several universities in Catalonia, while also acting as guest professor at several colleges, including the Center for Curatorial Studies at Bard College (New York).
Carles’ work revolves around the use of the image in the fields of education, the media, and contemporary art. He also looks at the significance of issues such as the cultural policies of post-Fordism.
Rosa Lleó
Born in Bareclona, Rosa Lleó is the founder and director of The Green Parrot in Barcelona. Since its opening, it has established itself as a cultural space in the city, with a collection of exhibitions, publications and activities involving local and international artists. It is also a satellite project, occupying one of the artistic residences offered by the Tàpies Foundation of Barcelona within the programme Planta 1:1.
Rosa studied curating in London and has collaborated with institutions such as MACBA and the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, as well as curating exhibitions and projects at ARCO Madrid, Fundaçao Iberé Camargo, among others. Previously, she was editor of Actar and editorial assistant of Afterall magazine, but still writes occasionally for newspaper supplements and other magazines. Never one to slow down, Rosa also finds the time to teach at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona.
Manuel Segade
Manuel Segade is the current director of the Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo (CA2M) in Madrid, one of the most important art centers in Spain. With a degree in Art History, he has had a very versatile and intense professional career as a curator and teacher in different curatorial study programs, both in Spain and abroad.
He was the curator of the Galician Centre of Contemporary Art in Santiago de Compostela and carried out projects in several Spanish institutions, such as the Joan Miró Foundation, La Casa Encendida, and ARCO Fair. At an international level, he was the curator of both the Pavillon Vendôme and Kadist Foundation in France, the ArteBA Fair in Buenos Aires, the TENT Art Centre in Rotterdam, and the Spanish Pavilion in the 57th edition of the Venice Biennial. Segade’s career speaks for itself and makes him one of the most revered curators in Spain.
Alexandra Laudo
Alexandra Laudo is an independent curator and founder of Heroines of Culture, a platform for the development of projects in the field of contemporary visual arts. She has received awards such as the BCN Producció Comissariat as well as scholarships from La Caixa (Comisart).
Her experience is also thorough. She has been coordinator of the Loop Festival, assistant curator at both the Sala d’Art Jove and Sant Andreu Contemporani, while also presenting projects at CaixaForum Barcelona. Outside of Spain, she has worked at the Museo di Città de Sassari, Videographe and Art Souterrain in Montreal, as well as the Nordic Art Association in Stockholm.
