English – Olga Simón · Professional CV
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PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Contemporary art professional with over twenty-five years of experience in artistic creation, cultural management, photography, and design applied to art.
My career spans international exhibitions as a visual artist, restoration work, photography and graphic design for cultural institutions, as well as the development and coordination of interdisciplinary projects.
Passionate about art in all its forms of expression, I combine creativity, aesthetic sensitivity, curiosity, commitment, and a global perspective on the artistic sector.
VISUAL ARTIST | 1997 – Present
• Multiple exhibitions – over seventy in total, including fourteen solo exhibitions – held in galleries and museums across Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.
• Represented by galleries such as 100 kubik Art Gallery [Cologne, Germany], Astarté Art Gallery [Madrid], and Encant Art Gallery [Menorca, Spain].
• Participation in international contemporary art fairs including art karlsruhe [Rheinstetten, Germany], C.A.R. Contemporary Art Ruhr [Essen, Germany], Arte Lisboa [Portugal], ARCO [Madrid], Art Madrid [Madrid], ArteSantander [Santander, Spain], Foro Sur [Cáceres, Spain], and Valencia Art [Valencia, Spain].
• International recognition and awards including the Prize from the UPV University of the Basque Country, Spain [1996] and Second Prize at the Thibierge & Comar Awards, Paris [2004].
Full details – Olga Simón · Artistic CV + info
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN CONTEMPORARY ART AND CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
GALLERIST
Director of Joan Gaspar Art Gallery Madrid | 2014
Director of Joan Gaspar Art Gallery Madrid — working in close collaboration with the main gallery in Barcelona and its director, Joan Gaspar i Farreras.
Oversaw exhibitions, installation, artwork management, and personalised visitor engagement. Organised guided tours and media outreach.
Exhibitions featuring works by Pablo Ruiz Picasso, Francisco de Goya, Eduardo Chillida, Alexander Calder, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies, Etienne Krähenbühl, Jaume Plensa, and Enrique Brinkman, among others.
Associate Director and Head of Visual Identity at Astarté Art Gallery, Madrid | 2007 – 2009
Work in close collaboration with Marisa Fernández-Cid – Director of Astarté Art Gallery – on overall gallery management, curatorial planning and artist selection, exhibition conception and installation, artwork management, personalised visitor engagement, guided tour organisation, graphic design for catalogues and invitations, and media outreach.
Participation in international contemporary art fairs including Arte Lisboa [Portugal], ArteSantander [Santander, Spain], Foro Sur [Cáceres, Spain], and Valencia Art [Valencia, Spain].
Organisation of exhibitions featuring artists such as Gilbert Garcin, David Jiménez, Antía Moure, and Ricard Chiang, as well as those represented by the gallery.
David Jiménez’s exhibition ‘Lo que queda’, organised at the gallery, was awarded the 2008 Kaulak Award [Villa de Madrid Awards] by the Community of Madrid for Best Exhibition of the Year.
Gallery Assistant at International Contemporary Art Fairs | 2008 – 2016
Collaboration with various galleries in assistance and representation roles at international contemporary art fairs, including:
ARCO International Contemporary Art Fair of Madrid | Adora Calvo Art Gallery [Salamanca, Spain]
Arte Lisboa Feira de Arte Contemporânea | Contemporary Art Fair [Lisbon, Portugal] | Astarté Art Gallery Madrid [several editions]
Art Madrid Contemporary Art Fair [Madrid] | 100 kubik – raum für spanische kunst Art Gallery [Cologne, Germany]
ArteSantander International Contemporary Art Fair [Santander, Spain] | Astarté Art Gallery [Madrid]
Foro Sur Ibero-American Contemporary Art Fair [Cáceres, Spain] | Astarté Art Gallery [Madrid]
Valencia Art Contemporary Art Fair [Valencia, Spain] | Astarté Art Gallery [Madrid]
CURATION AND CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
Organiser and speaker at the international congress for young artists, LabArt: Living, Thinking, Making [Madrid] | 2025
Upcoming – scheduled from 31 August to 4 September 2025
Member of the organising team and speaker on creative processes, thought, and contemporary artistic practice. Potential coordination of a group of participating artists. [1]
Director of the 1st ‘Water’ Photography Award, Mondariz Balneario Spa Foundation [Pontevedra, Spain] | 2006
Development, conceptualisation, and direction of the first edition of the ‘Water’ Photography Award, organised by the Mondariz Balneario Spa Foundation in collaboration with Antonio Freire Magariños, Medical Director at Mondariz Spa.
Chairing of the jury, selection of participating artists, curation of the exhibition, and organisation of the photography events held as part of the award programme.
Oversight of the award’s visual identity, including concept development and graphic design of the catalogue.
Co-creator and Artistic Curator specialising in visual aesthetics for the 2nd and 3rd Salida de Emergencia Photography Fair [Madrid] | 2010 – 2011
Co-creation and design of the fair in collaboration with Madphoto Photography School and Lucila Toledo.
Artistic curation led by Carlos Arrogante, Olga Simón, and Madphoto Photography School, with responsibilities including jury membership, artist selection, portfolio reviews, and support and guidance to artists in the production of their work and the conception of their exhibition stands at the fair.
Co-creator and coordinator of the symposium on ‘Contemporary Photographic Production’ at the 2nd Salida de Emergencia Photography Fair [Madrid] | 2010
Co-creation and co-direction of the symposium in collaboration with Lucila Toledo.
Responsible for the selection, coordination, and management of expert speakers recognised in the field of contemporary photography.
Expert juror in visual arts, artistic practice, and photography | 2004 – 2016
Participation as an expert juror in over twenty competitions at universities and private institutions, including:
• Universidad San Pablo CEU [Madrid] — annual participation
• Pontifical University of Comillas [Madrid] — annual participation
• MadPhoto Photography School [Madrid] — several editions
• Salida de Emergencia Photography Fair [Madrid] — several editions
• 1st ‘Water’ Photography Award, Mondariz Balneario Spa Foundation [Pontevedra, Spain]
Coordinator of the photographic archive Fototeca 9 x 12 [Madrid] | 2000 – 2001
In charge of the management and organisation of the photographic archive Fototeca 9 x 12, a company specialising in large-format photographic images for travel and visual culture magazines, including Viajes National Geographic. Work in close collaboration with Xosé Blas, Director of the Madrid office.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Graphic design for artistic and cultural institutions | 2006 – Present
Creation of over one hundred art catalogues, brochures, invitations, and publication covers for institutions in the artistic and cultural sector, including: the Spanish Ministry of Culture, UNED National University of Distance Education [Spain], San Pablo CEU University [Madrid], 100 kubik – raum für spanische kunst Art Gallery [Cologne, Germany], Astarté Art Gallery [Madrid], and De-Autor Art Gallery [San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Madrid]. [1]
Conception and design of the visual identity for numerous international conferences organised by UNED.
CO-FUNDER FOTODOS
Co-funder Fotodos [Madrid] | 1999 – 2006
Head of the creative department and photographer.
Visual communication for over one hundred clients, including: SECC Sociedad Estatal de Conmemoraciones Culturales [State‑run Enterprise for Cultural Commemorations, Spain], Filmoteca Española [Madrid], Duke University [USA], San Pablo CEU University [Madrid], Grupo Bassat Ogilvy [Madrid], Telefónica [Madrid], Yelmo Cineplex [Madrid], Canal+ [Spain], the National Music Auditorium of Madrid, and Marlborough Gallery [Madrid].
CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION
Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage and artworks | 1994 – 1998
Specialisation in sculpture, altarpieces, and mural painting in the Basque Country and Castile and León, notably the discovery of the mural paintings in the Church of San Pedro de Murueta [Orozko, Basque Country] .
1994 – 1997 | Member of the conservation and restoration team led by José María Urquizu [Basque Country, Spain]
1997 – 1998 | Coordination of an independent conservation and restoration team [Castile and León, Spain]
TEACHING AND OUTREACH
CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY LECTURER
Lecturer in image, art, creative practice, contemporary photography, and personal projects | 2006 – 2014
• ICADE and ICAI, Comillas Pontifical University [Madrid]
• Blasco 19 School of Photography [Madrid]
• Madphoto School of Photography [Madrid]
Invited artist on multiple occasions to deliver lectures and classes at the Faculty of Information Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid UCM | From 2000 to 2021
LECTURES AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS
2025
Lecture ‘Artista y Mujer’ [Artist and Woman]. XII International Colloquium of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women. National University of Distance Education [UNED]. Madrid, Spain
2023
Lecture ‘Empty House | Casa vacía’ [Empty House]. XI International Colloquium of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women. National University of Distance Education [UNED]. Madrid, Spain
2021
Lecture ‘El cuento que no nos contaron’ [The Tale We Were Never Told]. X International Colloquium of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women. National University of Distance Education [UNED]. Madrid, Spain
Lecture ‘Intangibles’ [Intangibles]. Faculty of Information Sciences. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. Madrid, Spain
2016
Panel discussion ‘Ocho años de historia del Seminario Permanente sobre Literatura y Mujer’ [Eight Years of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women]. VIII International Colloquium of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women. National University of Distance Education [UNED]. Madrid, Spain
Guided tour of the exhibition going through… / atravesando… Las Cigarreras Contemporary Culture. Alicante, Spain
Lecture ‘Una forma de estar en el mundo’ [A Way of Being in the World]. Faculty of Information Sciences. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. Madrid, Spain
2015
Panel discussion ‘La Creatividad. Prácticas Artísticas Contemporáneas’ [Creativity. Contemporary Artistic Practices]. Master’s in Advanced Studies of Spanish Art. Faculty of Geography and History. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. Madrid, Spain [1] [2] [3] [4]
2014
Lecture ‘Demasiado ellas para…’ [Too Much Woman for…]. VII International Colloquium of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women. National University of Distance Education [UNED]. Madrid, Spain
2013
Lecture ‘Cuestionar. Generar interrogantes. Un paseo por sugerentes propuestas del arte contemporáneo’ [Questioning. Raising Questions. A Journey Through Thought-Provoking Contemporary Art Proposals]. VI International Colloquium of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women. National University of Distance Education [UNED]. Madrid, Spain
2012
Talk ‘Intangibles’ [Intangibles] EnContexto 2012 Encuentros para la Reflexión de la Fotografía en España [Encounters for Reflection on Photography in Spain]. La Casa Encendida. Madrid, Spain
2011
Panel discussion ‘Una habitación propia: visibilidad de la mujer en el arte’ [A Room of One’s Own: Visibility of Women in Art]. Faculty of Fine Arts. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. IV International Colloquium of the Permanent Seminar on Literature and Women. National University of Distance Education [UNED]. Madrid, Spain [1]
2006
Lecture ‘Agua en la fotografía’ [Water in Photography]. Photography Symposium. I AGUA Photography Competition. Mondariz Balneario Foundation. Pontevedra, Spain
Lecture ‘Olga Simón. En primera persona: la autobiografía’ [Olga Simón. In the First Person: Autobiography]. Canal Abierto 2006. Forum XIII Image Studies Conference of the Community of Madrid. Canal de Isabel II. Madrid, Spain
2005
Lecture ‘La fotografía como arte’ [Photography as Art]. IX Xavier Pousa Landscape Grants. Mondariz Balneario Foundation. Pontevedra, Spain
2003
Lecture ‘Fotografía y espejo’ [Photography and Mirror]. Symposium Women in the Field of Contemporary Artistic Creation and Communication. Faculty of Information Sciences. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. Madrid, Spain
2000
Lecture ‘Fotografía narcisista: una vía hacia la introspección’ [Narcissistic Photography: A Path to Introspection]. Symposium Women in the Field of Contemporary Artistic Creation and Communication. Faculty of Information Sciences. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. Madrid, Spain
Lecture ‘El número siete. La fotografía subjetiva’ [The Number Seven. Subjective Photography]. Encuentros ‘El otro en el espejo. La identidad cuestionada por la fotografía artística’ [The Other in the Mirror. Identity Questioned by Artistic Photography. Encounters]. Pilar Miró Cultural Center. Arganda del Rey Madrid, España
CULTURAL WRITING
Articles on art, photography, and visual culture | 1997 – 2006
Published in a variety of specialised magazines, including:
• Universo Fotográfico, journal of Complutense University of Madrid UCM
• DSLR Magazine, under the direction of Valentín Sama
• AnigpTV, National Association of Press and TV Photojournalists, chaired by Diego Caballo
• Fotofutura.com, the first digital magazine dedicated to photography, edited by Manuel Santos — over thirty articles on contemporary photography exhibitions
EXHIBITION GUIDING
Guide for contemporary art exhibitions | 1997 – 2016
Notably the guided tours of the photographic exhibition by Duane Michals at the MNCARS Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía during the inaugural edition of the International Festival of Photography and Visual Arts PhotoEspaña 98, as well as the contemporary art exhibition Gure Artea 97 at Sala Rekalde, Bilbao.
Numerous guided tours at Astarté Art Gallery, Joan Gaspar Art Gallery, and at contemporary art fairs including ARCO, Art Madrid, ArteSantander, Valencia Art, and Foro Sur, as well as guided tours of my own exhibitions.
EDUCATION
2007
Honorary Collaboration with the Department of Photography, Faculty of Fine Arts. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. Madrid, Spain
2005
International Master’s in Contemporary Photography and Personal Projects | Author Photography. EFTI Escuela de Fotografía Centro de Imagen [School of Photography and Center of Image]. Madrid, Spain
2004
Diploma of Advanced Studies [DEA] | Research Narcissistic Photography: A Path Towards Introspection. Complutense University of Madrid [UCM]. Madrid, Spain
1997
Degree in Fine Arts | Specialization in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage and Works of Art [5-year program, Master’s level equivalent]. University of the Basque Country [UPV]. Bilbao, Spain
1997 to 2005
More than thirty workshops with renowned artists such as Duane Michals, Ouka Lele and Chema Madoz, among others
Olga Simón · Bio + info
Olga Simón · Artistic CV + info
Contact
@olgasimonvisualartist
Olga Simón