Hi there!
My name is Mara Alves, and I am a London-based curator, cultural consultant, and arts advocate with over fifteen years of experience developing exhibitions and cultural partnerships across London and Europe.
My relationship with art began as a practitioner in Portugal, where I trained at AR.CO Lisbon (BA in Fine Arts). This foundation, paired with my MA in Art History, Curatorship and Renaissance Culture from the Warburg Institute, continues to inform my curatorial sensibility and my instinctive understanding of the artist's creative process.
Mentoring emerging artists has always run alongside my curatorial work - from teaching in art studios in Lisbon to guiding artists through portfolio development and their first professional steps in London.
After founding and managing Art Has a Space, a gallery and art studio in Lisbon, I relocated to London in 2015. I served as Chief Curator and Manager at D Contemporary in Mayfair for 3 years, during which I delivered 21 exhibitions, built a collector network of over 8,000 collectors, and established collaborations.
I also founded PortugArt, a curatorial project dedicated to showcasing the best emerging and mid-career Portuguese artists in London. My work has always focused on bridging artistic excellence and social impact - from the landmark LGBTQ+ exhibition "The Art of Being OUT" to "Paula Rego and Her Contemporaries" at Europe House, developed alongside Rego's retrospective at Tate Britain.
I have shared my insights on curatorial mentoring as a guest speaker at the International Online Art Congress (CONNARTE) and explored regional histories through talks with Contemporary Balkan Art LLP. I have worked with independent artists, helping build their careers, portfolios and exhibitions, as well as with galleries such as The Dragon Gallery and the Caspian Contemporary Gallery.
For several years, I also served as judge, co-projector, and co-curator for the international It's Art Call Art Prize with The Cult House, helping to identify and champion exciting emerging voices in the contemporary scene.
Currently, I balance my curatorial practice with my role as a Welfare Advisor at Starling Bank, where I advocate for customers with complex needs and contribute to panel discussions on LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.
I am also serving as Project Manager, Artist Liaison, and Co-curator with PrideWide, guiding their cultural programming and preparing for our inaugural exhibition at The Bomb Factory in late 2026.
I am always open to new collaborations where culture, community, and equity are at the heart of the work. If you want to see what I have been up to all these years, feel free to hit the Projects tab.
I hope you enjoy exploring - and don't hesitate to get in touch!