Bachelor’s Degrees, MASTERS & Postgraduate Certificates

2022-24      Instituto Europeo de Psicologia Positiva, Titulo de Experto en Coaching de Fortalezas  (Upcoming)

2020      Yale School of Management, Executive Education, “Women Leadership Program” / Final Grade: 98% 

2000       San Francisco Art Institute, CA, USA. MFA, Masters in Fine Arts, New Genre

1999       The Academy of Art College, CA, USA. MFA, Masters in Fine Arts, Painting & Printmaking  / with honors

1997       Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. MA in Education

1996       Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain. BFA, Bachelors in Fine Arts (top 5 graduates)

1995       Chelsea College of Art & Design. The London Institute, England. BFA Semester

Graduate Certificates

2017               MIT, Massachusets Institute of Technology, Bootcamp, Trek “The Business of Culture,” Vienna, Austria (6 participants selected among 3,000 submissions) 

1996-97      Circulo de Bellas Artes, Aesthetics, History and Theory of Contemporary Art, Madrid, Spain

1996-97      The International House, Professor of Spanish as a foreign language, Madrid, Spain

Selected Certified Courses

2019   

MIT,  Massachusets Institute of Technology, “Business Negotiations: The MIT Mutual Gains Approach” via MITxPRO 

2018          

Yale University, “Moralities of Everyday Life” via Coursera  

Standford University, “Love as a Force for Social Justice,” via Coursera 

2017          

Columbia University, “The Science of Learning,” via EdX
MIT,  Massachusets Institute of Technology, “Who is your customer,” via EdX 

2016          

Harvard University, “Datawise: Improve Learning and Teaching,” Ed
MIT,  The Brooklyn Institute for Social Research, “Heidegger: Being and Time” 

2015          

Berkeley, “The Science of Happiness,” via EdX
MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “The American Dream,” via EdX

2022
Reset, Universidad  Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

2018
Gema Alava: Hexagons, Maus Contemporary, Alabama, USA

2017
Gema Alava: Observational Awareness, Robert Henry Contemporary, New York City
Trust Me, Museo Guayasamin, Quito, Ecuador

2016
Give Me a Museum to be lost and an Artwork to be Found, Museoo de la Ciudad de Quito, Ecuador

2014
Tell Me and Silences, AC Institute, New York City (March 13th -May 10th)
Tell Me the Truth 2008-2013, Instituto Cervantes, New York City

2013
Tell Me the Truth, TWIN Gallery, Exhibition, Madrid, Spain.

2012
Circle of Hope & Peace, United Nations Headquarters, New York City
PRESENCE:NET, in collaboration with composer and sound artist Josué Moreno, Estampa, Sound In, Madrid, Spain
CYCLE, Performance in collaboration with Jessica Higgins at Emily Harbey Foundation for SWITCH, Intermedia Television, New York City
TRUST ME: Tell Me a Secret, at a Major Contemporary Art Fair, New York City

2011
The Oracle: Tell Me a Secret, in collaboration with composer and sound artist Josué Moreno, Estampa, Sound In, Madrid, Spain. October
FIND US, Action with the support of Utopic Gallery, Madrid, Spain. October 2011
Here and There, Performance in collaboration with sound artist Robert Lange, Lehman College Art Gallery, New York. February-May 2011

2010
Cervantes Institute, New York, “TRUST ME,” An Art Project by Gema Alava documented by Jason Schmidt with the participation of Ellen Fisher, Mayrav Fisher, Jonathan Goodman, Jessica Higgins, Erika Kawalek, Erika Knerr, Alison Knowles, Ferran Martin, J. Morrison, Gordon Sasaki and J. G. Zimmerman. Presentation on October 15, 2010 at 6PM.
John Jay College Gallery, The City University of New YOrk, “Gema Alava: Tell Me the Truth.”
The Malcom X & Dr. Betty Shabath Memorial and Educational Center, “Tell Me a Story I, II, III.” New York, New York.

2009
CUE ART Foundation, “FIND ME,” An Art Project by Gema ALava with the participation of Lars Chellberg, Barbara Holub, Paul Kos, Ester Partegas, Robert Ryman, Arne Svenson, Merrill Wagner, Lawrence Weiner and Maria Yoon, New York, NY.
An Art Museum in New York City, “TELL ME,” with the participation of 22 Artists, New York City.
Mumford Fine Art, “Tensions,” London
SUNY Rockland Community College, “Gema Alava,” New York

2008
Messineo Art Projects & Wyman Contemporary, “Tell Me the Truth,” New York, NY.
Lucy Gooding Gallery, The Bolles School, “Tell Me a Story,” Jacksonville, FL.

2006
King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center of New York University, “Hay Ropa Tendida (Clothing,)” New York, NY.

2002
Lance Fung Gallery, “Land of No One,” New York, NY.

2000
Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, “The Siren’s Silence,” San Francisco, CA.

1999
Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute, “List of Things to Forget,” San Francisco, CA.

1998
Mill & Short Gallery, “Fragments,” San Francisco,

• 2022
• Book presentation, International Spanis Book Fair, London, England
• Book presentation with writer Cristen Hemingway Jaynes, Hemingway Home and Museum, Keywest , USA
• Book presentation, International Book Fair of Bogota, Colombia
• Inspiring Audiences, Michigan, USA
• 
  
• 2021
• Book presentation with curator MIguel Cerecera, Madrid, Spain
• Book presentation with designer Andres Lhima, Mexico City
• Launch of Podcasts “Hexagons in Camarma” at HexagonsGlobal, New York City

• 2020
• Glimpse, Curated by Evonne M. Davis, Gallery Aferro, New Jersey
• Book presentation with journalist Alfonso Armada, online, Instituto Cervantes, London, England
• Reading of The Little Prince for Yoyorama Magazine, online, Madrid, Spain

• 2019
• Hexagons Presentation, Lincoln Center Library Auditorium, New York City
• Inspiring Audiences, Milan, Italy
• Maps Drawings, in collaboration with Cristen Hemingway Jayne, London, England
• Presentation of book, Feria del Libro de Madrid, Spain
• Museo Nacional de Ecuador, Cumbre Andina de los Museos, ICOM, Quito, Ecuador
•  
• 2018
• RE/Configurations: art, disability, identity,New House Center for Contemporary Art, New York City, USA   
• Hexagons, Ruderman Foundation Inclusion Summit, Boston, USA
• Cumbre Internacional de la Artes, Casa de la Cultura, Quito, Ecuador
• Hexagons, Cafe Democratico, Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, Quito, Ecuador
• Salon Internacional Iberoamericano, Trujillo, Peru

2022
Fellowship by the U.S National Committee of the International Council of Museums, ICOM, to attend the General Conference of ICOM

2019
Grant by MIT to participate & evaluate the pilot online course Negotiations Skills by MITxPRO, USA

2018
Award for Artistic Trajectory, Cumbre Internacional Andina de las Artes, Ecuador

2017
Selected by the Dedalus Foundation for the Art and Disability Institute, New York City, USA
Selected by MIT for Cultural Bootcamp, Vienna, Austria

2016
Selected by NYFA for the 2016 Immigrant Artist Mentoring Program: SOCIAL PRACTICE, New York City
Selected by the Creatice Center Institute for the Creative Aging Training at UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT, New York City
Selected by ART BEYOND SIGHT, Project and Access for All, to participate in the FESTIVAL OF FUN AND FRATERNITY, by the MAJOR’s OFFICE for People with Disabilities. Madison Square Park, NYC

2014
Selected for Berlin Month Performance – 4th Edition, Berlin, Germany

2013
New York Foundation for the Arts, Arteprenour

2012
Smithsonian Institution nomination for a SARF Fellowship
Selected for Art in Odd Places Festival, New York City, NY
Selected for O+ Art Festival, Kingston, NY

2011
Peter S. Reed Foundation Fellowship, New York
USA American Artists Projects nomination

2010
WOOLOO’s NEW LIFE RESIDENCY, 2010.
The General Consulate of Spain in New York, Visual Artist Fellowship for “TRUST ME.”

2009
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Grant. Six week Workshop Series.
Guest Visiting Artist, SUNY Rockland Community College, New York.

2008
The General Consulate of Spain in New York, Visual Artist Fellowship for “Tell me the Truth.”
Guest Visiting Artist 2008 Art Department The Bolles School, Jacksonville, Florida.

2007
Fundacion General de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Full Fellowship “Cursos de Verano, El Escorial,” Madrid, Spain. (Residency.)

2006
The General Consulate of Spain in New York, Visual Artist Fellowship for “Ropa Tendida (Clothing.)”

2003
The General Consulate of Spain in New York, Visual Artist Fellowship for “Patrones de Fe.”

2002
The General Consulate of Spain in New York, Visual Artist Fellowship for “Land of No One.”

2001
The Bronx Museum of the Arts, AIM– Artist in The Marketplace Program, New York.
Aljira-A Center for Contemporary Art, Emerge 2002 Program, New Jersey.

2000
San Francisco Art Institute, Finalist MFA 2000 Graduation Award.

1999-00
San Francisco Art Institute, International Student Fellowship for Graduate Studies

1997-99
Fundación “la Caixa”, Fellowship for Graduate Studies in the USA, Spain.

1997
Fundacion General de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Full
Fellowship “Cursos de Verano, El Escorial,” Madrid, Spain. (Residency)

1995-96
Ministry of Education and Sciences of Spain, UCM Contemporary Art History Fellow, Spain.

1995
Fundacion General de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Full Fellowship “Cursos de Verano, El Escorial,” Madrid, Spain. (Residency.)
Univesidad Complutense, ERASMUS Fellowship between European Universities, Spain.
MAPFRE Foundation. Second Prize. International Penagos Drawing Competition, Spain.

1994
Universidad Complutense, Beca-Colaboración Fellowship, Madrid, Spain.
Colegio Oficial de Ingenieros Tecnicos de Madrid First Alternate and Honorable
Mention, National Painting Competition, Spain.

2023
Retorno a la oscuridad, John Rapko, Ediciones Uniandes, Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia

2022

• Entrevista a Gema Alava por Guillermo Vanegas, Reemplazo, 26/06/2022
• Entrevista a Gema Alava por Santiago Aguirre y Monica Paez, FILBO, Feria Internacional del Libro de Bogota’
• Reyero, Paco, Entrevista a Gema Alava, Radio Canal Sur, 01/2022

2021

• Entrevista a Gema Alava by Bisila Bokoko, Negocios TV, 11/23/2021
• Can Women Have it all? Gema Alava in Fempeak, 04/20/2021
• Del Valle, Ignacio, “Visita al Prado,” 06/07/2021
• Entrevista a Gema Alava por C de Cultura, Ciudad de Mexico, 07/07/2021
• Episode 27. Inspired to be Amazing. Interview with Gema Alava. 06/12/2021

2020

• Como perder el miedo dentro de un museo, Yoyorama Magazine, 06/12/2020
• Mis obras encierran mensajes, Yoyorama Magazine, 06/23/2020
• Subblety and Drama Emerge in Yovanovitch’s project, Architecture Design, 10/03/2020
• Step inside Yovanovitch’s Recent Project in Manhattan, Paris Agenda, 08/07/2020
• Tour s Designed Manhattan Masterwork, Architectural Digest, 08/05/2020

2019

1. Gema Alava en la Feria del Libro de Madrid, Anna Grau, 2019

2018

1. Arrivas,  Victoria, Gema Alava: Reconocimiento honorifico por su trayectoria, PAC, 06/12/2018
2. Anthony Ptak, Art Beyond Sight Exhibition at Inndustry City, Art Beyond Sight, 2018
3. Re/Configurations: Artist Talk & Dialogue, Snag Harbour Center, 10/11/2018

2017
Goodman, Jonathan, Gema Alava at Robert Henry Contemporary, New York, 2017
Torres-Ruiz, Marta,  Unico Testigo: las camaras de seguridad, La Razon, 2017

2016
Alma Ramas, Gema Alava: EL Arte como Construccion Social y Educativa, 2016

2015
Rapko, John, Why Do Curators Talk Like That, SFAQ and NYAQ Magazines, 2015
Ramas, Alma, Gema Álava presenta su instalación efímera: Hexágonos, XTRArt, 2015

•  
• UNITED NATIONS,  New York City, USA
• NEW JERSEY MUSEUM, New Jersey , USA
• THE QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART, New York City, USA
• MANIFESTA 8, Bienal of Contemporary Art, Murcia, SPAIN
• COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York City, USA
• PRATT INSTITUTE, New York City, USA
• NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, New York City, USA
• SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS, New York City, USA
• MARGULIES ART FOUNDATION, Miami, Florida, USA
• THE SAN FRANCISCO ART INSTITUTE,  San Francisco, California, USA
• CIRCULO DE BELLAS ARTES, Madrid, SPAIN
• NEUROLOGY GRAND ROUNDS, New York City, USA
• SUNY, DOWNSSTATE MEDICAL CENTER, NEUROLOGY DEPARTMENT, New York City, USA
• UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCTICA. Escuela Superior de Arquitectura, MASTER DE EFIMERAS, Madrid, SPAIN
• SUNY Community College, New York City, USA
• LEHMAN COLLEGE, New York City, USA
• JONH JAY COLLEGE, New York City, USA
• CUE ART FOUNDATION, New York City, USA
• SUNY Rockland Community College, New York City, USA
• THE MORGAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, New York, New York City, USA
• THE BOLLES SCHOOL, Department of Fine&Performing Arts, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
• UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE, Cursos de El Escorial, Madrid, SPAIN
• WHITNEY AT ALTRIA, New York City, USA
•  

CONTRAPORTADA NY1. “Trust Me: Transmitiendo arte a partir de palabras”. October 2010
NCI NOTICIAS. “Una Performance basada en la confianza”. November 2010
“Con Visado de Calle,” TVE, televisión española, 2010.
“Nueve Lunas en Naciones Unidas” NTN, December 10, 2009.
“Hope Blossoms Art Happening at the Margulies Collection at the Warehouse,” UVU, Miami, Florida, October 2009.
“Gema Alava: Conquistando la Gran Manzana,” NCI Noticias, HITM, Hispanic Information Telecomunications Network, Inc, April 2008.
“Dialogo de Costa a Costa,” Roundtable: “The Importance of Art in Education,” HITM,
Hispanic Information Telecommunications Network, Inc, March, 12, 2007. 12PM-1PM.
“Contact Arte,” HITM, Hispanic Information Telecommunications Network, Inc, 2006, 2007 and 2008. (6 Programs.)
“Por Arte de Mujer: Gema Alava Crisostomo,” HITM, Hispanic Information Telecommunications Network, Inc (On going 2007-2008.)

• 2021 – Present
• New York State Education Department – Instructor of workshops for Professional Development CTLE Credited Certified Course lead by Everyone Reading.

2001 – Present
The Morgan Library and Museum, New York – Lecturer/Art Instructor/Educator

2004 – 2014
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York – Educator/Art Instructor

2002 – 2014
Guggenheim Museum, New York  – Lecturer/ Educator

2004 – 2013       
MoMA, The Museum of Modern Art, New York – Lecturer / Educator

• 2003 – 2008  
• Whitney Museum of American Art, New York – Art Instructor / Educator    

• 2003     
• Whitney at Altria, New York City – Instructor                 
  

2003      
The  Queens Museum or Art, New York – Art Instructor 

• 2001 – 2003       
• Museum of the City of New York, Learning Department – Art Instructor
•  

2020         Cervantes Institute, LONDON, ENGLAND. Presentation of Art Project and Publication “How to Not be Afraid in a Museum.” Series of interviews and videos curated by Gema Alava with the participation of Alfonso Armada, Juan Agullo, Tatiana Beca Osborne, Elena Diez.

2019         Baccauleratte Escuela , MILAN, ITALY.  Presentation of Art Project  “Hexagons” curated by Gema Alava with the participation of Beatriz Molero.

2018         RE/Configurations: art, disability, identity, New House Center for Contemporary Art, NEW YORK CITY, USA. Presentation of Art Project “Trust Me.” Curated by Gema Alava with the participation of Ellen Fisher, Mayrav Fisher, Jonathan Goodman, Jessica Higgins, Erika Kawalek, Erika Knerr, Alison nowles, Ferran Martin, J. Morrison, Gordon Sasaki and Jonathan Zimmerman.  

2017         DIS, Art Beyond Sight, Dedalus Foundation, NEW YORK CITY, USA. Presentation of Art Project “Confia en Mi.“ Curated by Gema Alava with the participation of Leslye Guayasamin, Daniel Ramon and Jason Schmith. 

2017         Museo de Arte Guayasamin, QUITO, ECUADOR. Presentation of project “Confia en Mi.” Curated by Gema Alava with the participation of Bln Bike (Belén Jaramillo), Christian Cerda, Edgar Dávila Soto, Ramiro Díez, Reina Victoria Diez, Lisa Khon, Fernando López Guevara, Natalia Luzuriaga, Susana Nicolalde and Renato Reúl Ulloa.

2016         Pratt Institute, NEW YORK, USA. Presentation of poject “Relational Art” curated by Gema Alava with the participation of artists Alison Knowles and Jessica Higgins, 

2014         Month of Performance Art 4th Edition, BERLIN, GERMANY. Presentation of project “Trust Me: Errogate/Surrogate.” Curated by Ilya Noe and Gema Alava, with the participation of artists Francesca Romana Ciardi, Nathalie Fari, Lynette Hunter, Teena Lange, Joel Verwimp and Camilla Graff Junior.  

2013         UNITED NATIONS Headquarters, NEW YORK, USA. Presentation of project “Nets.” Directed and curated by Gema Alava with the participation of ATD 4th World.

2013         Cervantes Institute, NEW YORK, USA. Presentation of the Art Project “Tell Me the Truth.” Curated by Gema Alava with the participation of Alfonso Armada, Julian Casanova, Luis H. Francia, Michael Gallagher, Shamina de Gonzaga, Anna Grau, John Hemingway, Stephanie Jeanjean, Herman Moreno, Peri Uran, Ignacio del Valle, Octavio Vazquez and Midori Yamamura. 

2011         Estampa, Sound In, MADRID, SPAIN. Premiere of “The Oracle: Tell Me a Secret”.  Directed by Gema Alava Studio in collaboration with composer and sound artist Josué Moreno.

2010         The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, MIAMI, USA. Lotus House Women´s Shelter Benefit: Heart Happening. Art Project “Circle of Hope.” Directed by Gema Alava.

2009         CUE Art Foundation, NEW YORK CITY, USA. Presentation of Art Project “Find Me.” Curated by Gema Alava with the participation of artists Lars Chellberg, Barabara Holub, Ester Partegas, Paul Kos, Arne Svenson, Robert Ryman, Merrill Wagner, Lawrence Weiner and Maria Yoon.