Qualifications and academic training

• PhD (Doctorate), History and Theory of Architecture Program. School of Architecture, Princeton University, 2022
• Certificate, Media and Modernity Program. Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, 2019
• Certificate, Whitney Independent Study Program (ISP), Critical Studies. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY, 2018
• Certificate, Princeton-Weimar Summer School for Media Studies. Internationales Kolleg für Kulturtechnikforschung und Medienphilosophie, IKKM-Princeton University, 2016
• Master of Arts. Graduate School, Princeton University, 2016
• Certificate, Advanced Architectural Research (AAR). Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), Columbia University, 2013
• Master of Science, Advanced Architectural Design (MScAAD). Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), Columbia University, 2012
• Architect. Higher Technical School of Architecture of Barcelona, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, February 2010. Full academic year (Erasmus Program) at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh

Activity and/or professional career

Lluís Alexandre Casanovas Blanco (Ripoll, Gerona, 1985) is an architect, curator and critic. He has a doctorate from Princeton University. Currently, he works as a scientific advisor and architecture curator in the Collections Department of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, where he is also an advisor to the Education Area.

Casanovas Blanco combines his work as an architect with curatorial and cultural projects. He prepares the exhibitions Lo Animal en España (2024) at the Cerezales Foundation, León, and José Val del Omar: una Técnica con T mayúscula (2024) at the C3A in Córdoba.

Investigation

His interests include the production of cultural manifestations – mainly, art, architecture and design – in conditions of lack of political freedom; the distinction between high culture, popular culture and self-managed culture; the role of art and architecture in education, and the policies of artistic, architectural and cultural institutions.

Publications

• After Belonging. The Objects, Spaces, and Territories of the Ways We Stay in Transit. In collaboration. Lars Müller, Zurich (2016)
• “A Cut Above the Streets: Luis Alexandre Casanovas Blanco in Conversation with Robert M. Hayes.” In Who's Next? Homelessness, Architecture and Cities. Edited by Daniel Talesnik and Andres Lepik; Berlin: ArchiTangle; Munich: Architekturmuseum der TUM (2022)
• “The Bed in the Drill Hall”. In Expansions: Responses to How Will We Live Together? Edited by Hashim Sarkis and Ala Tannir. La Biennale di Venezia, Venice (2021)
• "El Auto Sacramental Invisible y el arte electroacústico de José Val del Omar (1932-1952)". In Niño de Elche: Auto Sacramental Invisible. Una representación sonora a partir de Val del Omar. Edited by Departamento de Colecciones. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid (2020)
• “Trauma in a Real Estate Office: Taller de Arquitectura's The City in Space performances and events (1968-69)”. In Bodybuilding: Architecture and Performance. Edited by Carlos Mínguez-Carrasco and Charles Aubin, New York: Performa (2019)

Work

• Architectural conservator and scientific advisor. Development of architectural acquisition lines for the permanent collection. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Departamento de Colecciones, Madrid
• Curator, Un piano preparado. Cultural and social context around La Casa Encendida, 2003-2023. In collaboration. La Casa Encendida, Montemadrid Foundation, Madrid (2023)
• Architectural Conservator, Vasos comunicantes: Colección, 1881-2021. Rooms “8 grados menos”, “Mediterráneos” and “Latinoamérica: Nueva oportunidad”. Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum, Madrid
• Curatot, Niño de Elche: Invisible Sacramental Auto. A sound representation from Val del Omar. In collaboration. Reina Sofía National Art Center Museum, Madrid (2020–2021)
• General Curator, Oslo Architecture Triennale 2016. After Belonging: En Triennale In Residence, On Residence, and the Ways We Stay in Transit. In collaboration. Oslo (2016)

Awards

• Finalist, Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Début Award (2019)
• First prize, Bauwelt Award: “Das Erste Haus. First Works” (2018)
• First prize, Living Places–Simon Architecture Prize (2018)
• Winner, FAD Prize for theory and criticism. Promotion of Decorative Arts (FAD), Barcelona (2017)
• Grant, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts Grant (2015)

lluisalexandrecasanovas.com