José García Oliva BA(Hons), MA (Distinction)

José García Oliva is a multidisciplinary, research-based artist. He was born and raised in Venezuela and is currently living in London.

He completed his MA in Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art and has taught at Kingston School of Art and Lancaster University.

His research practice mainly examines cultural heritage and identity politics. He uses visual communication as a tool to raise awareness about social subjects by using various research methodologies, archiving techniques and collaborative approaches.

In 2022, Oliva concluded Traces, a year-long project commissioned by Lancaster Art in collaboration with the cleaners from Lancaster University and finished a project titled How May I Serve You, commissioned by Axisweb and supported by Arts Council England. In addition, he completed his research residency at SOMA, Mexico and a six-month residency at The Muse gallery in London. In 2021, Oliva won first prize in the UK Ibero-American Visual Art Prize (VIA Art Prize). His Arepa Viuda project was awarded and financed by the Finnish Ibero-American Art Institute. In 2020 he received The Augusts Martin Prize for the innovative use of printing methods and won “Image of the Year 2020” from the cultural program “Next Generation, Please” organized by Bozar in Brussels.

@olivajosec / josegarciaoliva.com