Director - Bearspace
Julia Alvarez was born in the UK in 1979. She studied Visual Culture at Goldsmiths and has previously worked for both Hales Gallery and Matt's Gallery. Alvarez is the founder and director of BEARSPACE, a contemporary art gallery in Southeast London exhibiting up-and-coming artists. Alvarez is also the director of the Deptford Art Map.
Described by Time Out as an 'organising force', Julia has become known for her keen eye in spotting emerging artistic talent and progressing the careers of young artists. Their works are exhibited in her Deptford- and Greenwich-based galleries. Alvarez has also curated large-scale exhibitions showcasing emerging artists alongside well-known contemporary names. Alvarez was appointed the chief curator of Deptford X in 2010, organising a programme of events and exhibitions including projects by Bob and Roberta Smith, Yinka Shonibare and Tomoko Takahashi alongside those of younger artists. In 2009, Julia also directed the Royal Academy Schools' Urban Gallery, the largest outdoor exhibition of students' work over a building skin, in Mayfair, London.
Alvarez's recent projects include the Deptford Art Map, putting BEARSPACE at the heart of the emerging cultural scene in South London, and the popular PRINT NOW exhibition, a yearly open-submission exhibition of emerging artists working in print.
Visit BEARSPACE online at bearspace.co.uk or in person at 152 Deptford High Street, London SE8 3PQ.
More details about Julia Alvarez can be found at:
Artlicks (interview)
artlicks.com/events/554/interview-with-julia-alvarez
Time Out (tour & interview)
timeout.com/media/pdf/deptford.pdf
Art Review (video interview)
artreview.com/video/video/show?id=1474022%3AVideo%3A866359
Selected Artists
