ELENA AFIRMATIVA
Short Academic Bio
(Murcia, 1988)
Elena López Martín (PhD, 2019, EIDUM–University of Murcia) is a tenure-track/permanent lecturer (Contratada Doctora) in the Painting Area at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Murcia (Spain). She holds a BA in Fine Arts (UMU, 2011), an MA in Artistic Production and Management (UMU, 2012), and an MA in Teacher Training (Universidad Miguel Hernández, 2015). Her research and teaching intersect painting, participatory/interactive practices, and diagrammatic thinking. She held a Fundación Séneca FPI predoctoral fellowship (2015–2019) and has completed funded research stays at the Reina Sofía Museum Study Centre (2014), Complutense University of Madrid (2018), and Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (2016–2017). She co-directed the course Internet, Art and Commitment (Universidad Internacional del Mar, 2017–2018) and directed the Twitter-based virtual artist residencies of IN-SONORA (Madrid, 2015–2019). She has taught across BA and MA programmes and participates in national R&D projects on public space, social fabric, critical pedagogies and collaborative art, and collective/contextual artistic practices for social inclusion.
Concise credentials
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BA in Fine Arts (2006–2011, University of Murcia, Spain).
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Academic mobility grants: University of North Carolina at Pembroke (2008–2009, ISEP, USA); National University of Córdoba (2010, ILA, Argentina).
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Ministry collaboration grant (2010, UMU).
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Two research initiation grants (2011, 2013, UMU).
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MA in Artistic Production and Management (2011–2012, UMU).
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MA in Teacher Training (2014–2015, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Spain).
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Funded research stays: Reina Sofía Museum Study Centre (2014, Madrid); Complutense University of Madrid (2018); Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London (2016–2017).
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FPI Predoctoral Fellowship, Fundación Séneca—Murcia Regional Science & Technology Agency (2015–2019).
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PhD in Arts & Humanities (by publication), International Doctorate, EIDUM (2019).
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Current position: Tenured Lecturer (Permanente Laboral), Painting Area, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Murcia.
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Teaching & leadership: Co-director, Internet, Art and Commitment (Universidad Internacional del Mar, Campus Mare Nostrum, 2017–2018). Director, IN-SONORA Twitter virtual residencies (Madrid, 2015–2019).
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University teaching since 2015: BA in Fine Arts; Official University Master’s in Artistic Production & Management.
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R&D participation: Public Space and Social Fabric (HAR2015-66288-C4-4-P); The Neighbourhood as a Scene of Critical Pedagogies and Collaborative Art (PGC2018-094351-B-C42); current researcher in Collective and Contextual Artistic Practices in Local Environments. Paths of Social Inclusion in the Global Crisis (PID2023-149171OB-100).
Short Artistic Bio
2025 – SplendorIA, selected by competitive call for a solo exhibition, Espacio Fundación La Posta, Valencia, Spain.
2025 – Diagramming the Possible I, art mediation project with third-degree penitentiary participants, within the R&D project Collective and Contextual Artistic Practices in Local Environments. Paths of Social Inclusion in the Global Crisis(PID2023-149171OB-100).
2024 – Voices of Tea: Steeped Labels, selected by competitive call, 15th International Visual Arts Call Mulier Mulieris, Museum of the University of Alicante.
2024 – Finalist, Rendibú competition (podcast and short story), La Verdad newspaper.
2023 – Rails of Life, art-mediation project awarded at the Microacciona Festival of Art and Social Transformation, Murcia City Council & Cepaim Foundation.
2023 – Finalist, III University of Murcia Photography Contest on Gender Violence.
2018 – From the Garden to School, participatory art project in public space, within the R&D project The Neighbourhood as a Scene of Critical Pedagogies and Collaborative Art.
2018 – Work selected for the exhibition Utopian De-education, Centro Párraga, Murcia.
2014 – Work selected, Programa La Plaza, Matadero Medialab, Madrid.
2014 – Work selected, 9th National Painting Prize “Miradas”, Fundación Jorge Alió, Alicante.
2013 – Would you like to go for a walk with me? Project awarded a runner-up (accésit), CreaMurcia Visual Arts, Murcia City Council.
2013 – “C. Salinas” Prize, 34th Minicuadros Huestes del Cadí Competition, Museo del Calzado, Elda.
2013 – Solo exhibition Cut-out Cities, selected by competitive call, Casa de Cultura de El Campello, Alicante.
2011 – Fictional Cities, First Prize, Creajoven Visual Arts, Murcia City Council.
2011 – Finalist, 1st International Small-Format Fine Arts Competition, Galería Romea3, Murcia.
2011 – Work selected for the III Ikas Art International Exhibition, Bilbao Exhibition Centre.
2010 – Painting exhibition at Casa de España, Córdoba (Argentina).
2010 – Work selected for the II Ikas Art International Exhibition, Bilbao Exhibition Centre.
2009 – First Prize, 11th Young Painting Prize, Cámara de Murcia, Chamber of Commerce of Murcia.
2008 – Under-21 Prize, 10th Young Painting Prize, Cámara de Murcia, Chamber of Commerce of Murcia.
2008 – Under-25 Prize, Bullas Erotic Painting Competition, Bullas Town Council.