Júlia Polo is an independent curator and researcher based in South London and Barcelona.
Working closely with artists across moving image, sound and performance, her current research focuses on expanded cinema and mutlichannel live AV performances, and how these can be mediated through experimental and process-oriented exhibition formats.
She is interested in corporeality and embodied knowledge as a critical vessel through which to dissect questions of identity, place, and memory, and their resonances in both individual and collective bodies.
Her curatorial practice is grounded in collaborative and relational methodologies, and is interested in the political implications of slow, embodied curating and site-sensitive engagements.
She is the co-founder of soft shock collective, alongside Georgie Worth, devising socially-engaged public programming that centre intergenerational dialogues, slow-doing, and reciprocity with more-than-human entities.
With a background in Communication and Cultural Industries (UB, Barcelona), she is a graduate of the MFA Curating programme (Goldsmiths, University of London) after receiving the Botín Foundation's Curatorial and Museum Management Grant.
Working closely with artists across moving image, sound and performance, her current research focuses on expanded cinema and mutlichannel live AV performances, and how these can be mediated through experimental and process-oriented exhibition formats.
She is interested in corporeality and embodied knowledge as a critical vessel through which to dissect questions of identity, place, and memory, and their resonances in both individual and collective bodies.
Her curatorial practice is grounded in collaborative and relational methodologies, and is interested in the political implications of slow, embodied curating and site-sensitive engagements.
She is the co-founder of soft shock collective, alongside Georgie Worth, devising socially-engaged public programming that centre intergenerational dialogues, slow-doing, and reciprocity with more-than-human entities.
With a background in Communication and Cultural Industries (UB, Barcelona), she is a graduate of the MFA Curating programme (Goldsmiths, University of London) after receiving the Botín Foundation's Curatorial and Museum Management Grant.
Education
Communication and Cultural Industries
Universitat de Barcelona
MFA Curating
Goldsmiths, University of London
2023-2025
Goldsmiths, University of London
2023-2025
Employment
Junior Fellow
Goldsmiths, University of London
London, UK
2025-current
Production and Collections Assistant
Artangel
London, UK
2023 - current
Operations Assistant and FOH
Artangel
London, UK
2025
Junior Fellow
Goldsmiths, University of London
London, UK
2025
Freelance curator, co-founder of soft shock collective
London, Barcelona
2023
Resident Curator
Pilotenkueche artist residency
Leipzig, Germany
2022-2023
Public Programming Assistant
Filmoteca de Catalunya
Educational Services and Mediation Department
Barcelona, Catalonia
2021-2022
Curatorial projects and collaborations
Deep Assignments #03
Film screenings, multichannel performance and critical discussion
Invited moderator for the discussion
Apiary Studios
London
2025
London
2025
Kaleidosonic
Screening and live performance by Billy Roisz
Curator for Loop Festival
Loop Festival
Casa Seat, Barcelona
2025
Casa Seat, Barcelona
2025
Oh, Shephard!
Performance by Eleanor Arnold
Co-curated with soft shock
Nunhead Cemetary Chapel, London
2025
2025
Haptic Eye
Screening programme & roundtable with filmmakers
Co-curated with indexthumb
Lewisham Arthouse, London
2025
2025
Tracing the seed, remembering the circle
Pigment-making and drawing workshop with Chengwei Xia
Co-curated with soft shock
Bridgehouse Gardens, London
2025
2025
The Consolation of Waterlilies
Screening and workshop led by Joshua Bilton
Co-curated with soft shock
In collaboration with Artangel
Tolson Museum, Huddersfield
2025
2025
Artist Market for Palestine
Fundraiser for Palestinian Aid
Co-curated with soft shock
SET Social, London
2025
2025
OpnireNatacolClompex (Remix)
Sonic Repurposing Workshop with Lexy Morvaridi
Co-curated with soft shock
Gasworks, London
2025
2025
S.N.A.P.S
Group exhibition
Curator
MMX Gallery, London
2024
2024
D.E.T
Group exhbition
Resident Curator
Pilotenkueche, Artist Residency
Pilotenkueche, Leipzig
2023
2023
Ambivalove
Group exhbition
Resident Curator
Pilotenkueche, Artist Residency
Pilotenkueche, Leipzig
2022
2022
Awards
Museum Management and Exhibition Curation Grant
Fundación Botín
2024
The Eaton Fund for Artistic Practice
Eaton Fund
2024
Press
Soft Shock: Curating with Softness
Interview by indexthumb
In Process Podcast
2024
A Peckham artist market for Palestine
by Halima Jibril
Dazed Magazine
2024
Júlia Polo: art translator
Written by Sarah Boada,
Pilotenkueche, artist residency
2022
Last Updated 24.10.31