Ángel Calvo Ulloa and Juan Canela Appointed Curators for 33rd Pontevedra Biennial in 2027

The 33rd Pontevedra Biennial, scheduled to take place from May through August 2027, has appointed Ángel Calvo Ulloa and Juan Canela as its curators. Their proposal was selected by a jury chaired by Ángeles Tilve Jar, director of the Museo de Pontevedra, with members including Nuria Enguita from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Lisbon and Susana González from the María José Jove Foundation Art Center. The panel evaluated four submissions and praised the conceptual strength, curatorial approach, and technical execution of Calvo Ulloa and Canela's project, noting its ability to forge meaningful connections with the local landscape, territory, and cultural traditions. The jury highlighted how the proposal translates historical and symbolic narratives into contemporary, accessible forms, while also emphasizing its focus on local production, inclusion of emerging artists, and potential to enhance the biennial's cultural impact. Ángel Calvo Ulloa, born in Lalín in 1984, divides his time between Madrid and Galicia. He holds a degree in Art History from the University of Santiago de Compostela and a master's in Contemporary Art from the University of Vigo. His curatorial experience includes co-curating the 2024 Coimbra Biennial and projects at institutions such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid, MARCO in Vigo, CA2M in Móstoles, and MAC Goiás in Brazil. His work spans solo exhibitions featuring artists like Jordi Teixidor, Juan Uslé, and Teresa Lanceta, as well as collective projects exploring memory, identity, and public space. Juan Canela, born in Seville in 1980, resides in Panama City. He also studied Art History at the University of Santiago de Compostela and serves as chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art of Panama. Additionally, he is a member of the advisory committee for the Instituto Cáder de Arte Centroamericano at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. His career includes curating the Encuentros program at Artbo Bogotá in 2025, co-curating the 23rd Paiz Art Biennial in Guatemala in 2023, and serving as artistic director of ZONAMACO in Mexico City from 2020 to 2023. Together with Calvo Ulloa, he co-authored the 2020 publication 'Desde lo curatorial. Conversaciones, experiencias y afectos,' which reflects on curatorial labor conditions, relationships with artists, and the evolution of exhibition formats. The 33rd Pontevedra Biennial will be held across several venues that underscore its focus on the city's museum district, including the Castelao and Sarmiento buildings, the Church of Santa Clara, and the central nave of the Santo Domingo Ruins. A new addition for this edition is a venue in Vigo at the Afundación Exhibition Hall, expanding the biennial's territorial reach and reinforcing its role as a platform for dialogue between local and international contexts. The curatorial team will be responsible for defining the project's conceptual framework, developing its narrative, and coordinating technical and conceptual aspects. Their proposal received a prize of 10,000 euros, which will be applied toward their professional fees, set at 70,000 euros. The selection of Calvo Ulloa and Canela reflects the Pontevedra Biennial's commitment to exploring new approaches to contemporary art, grounded in the Galician context while maintaining a universal perspective. Their project aims to create meaningful experiences that strengthen connections between art, society, and territory.