OUR TEAM
Founders
Mónica Sánchez-Robles
Founding Partner, Director of Cultural Area and Projects
Multidisciplinary artist residing in Madrid, although she has lived for years in France and Italy. Graduate in Fine Arts, she is pursuing doctoral studies in Granada. She completed her postgraduate degree at Parsons Paris. She exhibits individually in Spain, France and Switzerland, and participates in international art fairs. She has collaborated with the International University of Rabat and with humanitarian foundations, being creative director of the Miami Fashion Week Master Classes in 2017.
Juan Urquiola Hidalgo
Founding Partner, Director of Sustainable Development and Agriculture
Financial professional currently residing in Madrid, although he has lived for years in the USA and Switzerland. He holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Finance from Boston College, USA. He developed his career mainly at BBVA for 25 years in different countries and is currently a Financial Consultant for SMEs in Madrid.
Our Team
Sandra Martin-Artajo
Literature Project Selection Advisor
Born in Madrid, she holds a PhD in Geography and History from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. However, the twelve years she spent in Brazil led her away from academia toward other pursuits. During those years she combined management work in private companies, with particular emphasis on training and education (such as Editorial SM), with the coordination of projects in NGOs. Back in Madrid, she has continued working in parallel in those two areas of interest: the third sector, such as Fundación Lealtad, and companies in the educational and cultural field such as Grupo Planeta or the creation of a children's digital book publisher.
Consuelo López-Zuriaga
Literature Project Selection Advisor
Graduate in Geography and History and Master in Business Administration and International Relations from the London School of Economics. Her novel "Perhaps in Autumn" was chosen as a finalist for the Nadal Prize 2021. Currently, she develops projects in the field of creative writing teaching. She has worked at Doctors Without Borders and Oxfam. Her experiences in Rwanda, Ghana, Benin, El Salvador, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Ecuador have allowed her to see the ravages of war, poverty and inequality but, above all, to build her own view of the world.
Oliva Arauna
Visual Arts Project Selection Advisor
A member of the generation of great Spanish women gallerists, Oliva Arauna opened her gallery in Madrid in 1985 to bring a contemporary vision to the Spanish art scene. She is a founding member of the associations Arte Madrid, Consorcio de Galerías de Arte Contemporáneo and the IAC, among others. After 30 years of work she closed her gallery and currently continues as a collector and collaborates with various cultural institutions. Faithful to her commitment to the most innovative aspects of art, she continues to seek new ways of approaching artistic practice with various projects, because "the world has changed and we must change with it," as she affirms.
Alberto de Juan
International Project Selection Advisor
Owner and director of Galería Max Estrella in Madrid, established in 1994. Max Estrella features artists from European and American countries, also supporting artists from their local environment. The gallery regularly attends art fairs in Europe and America, having begun to expand into Asia. Alberto de Juan has been a member of the committees of ARCO and Paris Photo among other fairs. He collaborates with museums and curators from around the world and is also President of the National Consortium of Contemporary Art Galleries, Founding Partner of Arte Madrid, Founding Partner of the IAC Instituto de Arte Contemporáneo, and Patron of FIES Fundación Institucional Española.
Dr. Isidro López-Aparicio
Sustainable Projects Selection Advisor
Dr. Isidro López-Aparicio. Artist, professor at the University of Granada and curator. Expert in studies and praxis of art as creative transformation of conflicts. Director of the CECImagen Research Group, Member of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Research. Master in Environmental Management, Doctor in Fine Arts. Honorary President of the Fine Art European Forum, and of the Union of Contemporary Artists of Spain.
Alberto Zontone
Design Projects Selection Advisor
Co-founder and CEO of Patricia Urquiola S.p.A., Milan, Italy. Since 2001, the studio has been working in the fields of industrial product design, architecture (hotels, commercial premises, residences, exhibitions and installations), art direction and strategic consulting. The company collaborates internationally with Italian and international design companies such as Cassina, Haworth, Flos, Gan, Georg Jensen, Glas Italia, Kartell, Kettal, Agape, Alessi, Axor-Hansgrohe, B&B Italia, Baccarat, Boffi, Budri, De Padova, Driade, Coedition, as well as global brands like Louis Vuitton, BMW, Ferrari, Missoni, Panerai, Mandarin Oriental Hotels, Four Seasons, Marriott, W Hotels, Edition Hotels, Sheraton Hotels, Design Hotels Group, Starbucks, Boeing.
Jesús Timón
Architect
Jesús Timón studied at the University of Seville, where he graduated in Architecture. After working in various architecture studios and companies, in 2013 he opened his own studio, Arquicentia, with the aim of developing and protecting the cultural landscape of the area. From the studio, he works mainly on projects in the fields of architecture and urban planning that are developed on rural land. The professional practice of the studio is distinguished by its sensitivity to the environment, the language of the landscape and functionality, paying primary attention to the needs and expectations of the client. He develops an architectural language that responds to and integrates with its surrounding environment.
Elvira Rilova
Cultural Projects Advisor and Coordinator
Cultural manager and independent curator. For several years she worked as a cultural manager in different Spanish organizations such as the Residencia de Estudiantes Foundation, the Society of Artists or the Association of Cultural Magazines of Spain, museums such as the Reina Sofía or collectives such as the photographers NoPhoto.
Víctor Segura
Music Projects Selection Advisor
He is currently the principal percussionist of the OEX, professor and head of studies at the Higher School of Music of Extremadura – Musikex, and professor at EMMA in Almendralejo. He has been a member of JONDE and has been invited by almost all Spanish orchestras. As a timpanist he has been repeatedly invited by the OSCYL, OBC and the Bavarian State Opera. Committed to contemporary music, he has performed as a soloist and has been a member of Projecte SOXXI, SJ-Duet, and Neopercusión, performing at practically all renowned national festivals.
Collaborators
Yara Mateos
Space Coordinator
Claudia Mañas
Communication
Stefania Fenu
Residencies Coordinator. Communication and Social Media
Julio Rodríguez
Maintenance Horticulturist