Live online chat with Jimena Blázquez Abascal, PhD in Art History, exhibition curator and Director of the NMAC Foundation. 

Jimena Blázquez Abascal, Director of the NMAC Foundation will welcome the first artists to join The Art Boulevard and present the programme of activities via an online Chat on July 17th. In this online Chat, participants will discuss how to use The Art Boulevard and how to maximise the platform’s potential. Equally, the chat will cover topics related to the creative arts; arts centre management; and site-specific projects. Artists will be able to converse with our guest via our Chat system and ask questions related to her professional experience as Director of the NMAC Foundation, exhibition curator and arts specialist.

With a PhD in Art History, Jimena began her professional career at the Picasso Museum Paris as an Art Adviser to Marc Blondeau where she collaborated with some of the most renowned art collectors in Europe and the United States, as well as established contemporary art galleries. In 1999, she took the decision to focus her professional career on setting up the NMAC Foundation in Vejer de la Frontera (Cadiz). Since then, she has curated 40 projects showcasing both emerging and established artists such as Sol Lewitt, Marina Abramovic, Roxy Paine, Maurizio Cattelan, Susana Solano, Pilar Albarracín, Santiago Sierra, Olafur Eliasson and James Turrell, collaborations that, as a result of their work with the NMAC Foundation, helped consolidate the careers of many of the participating artists.

In parallel to this, Jimema has published various catalogues and has participated in diverse international seminars. In 2003 she combined her work at the NMAC Foundation with that of Exhibition Curator at the contemporary arts centre, PS1/ MOMA, in New York, where she undertook a number of exhibitions by international artists, including an exhibition on emerging Spanish art in collaboration with acclaimed curator, Haral Szeemann. Her intense work in the Big Apple culminated in various shows by young artists who had never before exhibited in the United States, as well as periodic contributions to diverse magazines, publications and seminars. On return to Spain, she once more centred her work on the management of the NMAC Foundation and its new programme of activities, exhibitions and editorials. In 2009 the World Economic Forum appointed her ‘Young Global Leader’ for her commitment to promoting the arts and education as a basic tool for dialogue between civilisations. That same year, she curated one of the most important projects by American artist James Turrell in the NMAC Foundation. Jimena continues to participate regularly in international conferences and seminars. She is a member of ICOM and the Scientific Committee of Mudam in Luxembourg.

On July 18 at 12:00 GMT+1, you'll be able to chat with Jimena from this section Lab - Activities. You can start asking your questions to Jimena using the comments, or sending an email to [email protected].