In this episode, we speak with Alona Pardo, Director of the Arts Council Collection in the UK and formerly curator at the Barbican Art Gallery in London, where she worked for 15 years. With a curatorial focus on photography and film, Alona shares insights from her exceptional career, reflecting on the exhibitions she has led — from Masculinities: Liberation through Photography to RE/SISTERS: A Lens on Gender and Ecology, and The Infinite Woman. We explore her approach to building meaningful, socially engaged exhibitions, her collaborations with international institutions and artists, and her evolving role as a curator working across both public collections and contemporary art contexts. Alona also offers invaluable advice to photographers and curators navigating the changing landscape of visual culture.
00:02:45 – Alona Pardo introduces her background and curatorial journey
00:07:20 – From art school to the Barbican: early career steps
00:10:45 – Curating Masculinities: origins, scope and impact
00:16:30 – Working on Claudia Andujar: The Yanomami Struggle and activist photography
00:21:00 – How RE/SISTERS took shape and why gender and ecology matter
00:25:30 – Building exhibitions around research and archives
00:30:10 – Managing large-scale shows and collaborating with artists
00:35:40 – On curation as interpretation and storytelling
00:40:20 – Advice to photographers looking to collaborate with institutions
00:47:00 – Curating internationally: audiences, networks, responsibilities
00:53:10 – The shifting role of curators in public institutions
01:00:00 – Balancing personal vision with institutional missions
01:05:25 – Her transition to leading the Arts Council Collection and future perspectives
Link to my questionnaire to help you reflect on your artistic career: https://bit.ly/carriereartistique
My website: https://marinelefort.fr/
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Les Voix de la Photo is a podcast produced and hosted by Marine Lefort.
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