Alicia Velázquez delves into themes of intimacy and belonging, aspects of time, and the convergence of internal and external realities using a fluid variety of media. Her ritualistic performances and installations act as scaffolds where humans, objects, lines or colors come together to construct and experience moments of togetherness. With a recurrent inquiry of her and others’ timely identity, Alicia conducts participatory works as well as years-long projects often interwoven with her personal, intimate routines.
Alicia studied architecture at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Following her graduation, she has lived and worked as an architect and cross-disciplinary designer in various international cities, relocating to Zurich in 2013. As an independent designer Alicia worked across cultures, teams, disciplines and media, including graphic design, scenography, interiors and installations. In 2015 she received an Adapt-r Marie Curie European grant for a residency period in Brussels, during which she develops her first performances. These marked the beginning of her career transition to a focus on art projects.

1969 / Born in Madrid, Spain. Lives and works in Zurich

EDUCATION

2015 - 2019 / Practice-based artistic research PhD (in progress). Zürcher Hochschüle der Künste ZHdK/Linz (2018-2019) and KU Leuven School of Architecture, Brussels (2015-2018)
1999 / Parsons School of Design, New York. Art Direction & Typography
1998 / Architecture Bachelor & Master, ETSA Madrid

SOLO EXHIBITIONS & PERFORMANCES

2025
”Zeiträume” (Time Rooms). Solo exhibition. Villa Grunholzer, Uster CH
(Name in progress). Performance. Window of Fame, Zurich CH

2024
”Unsere Zeit”, Wasserkirche, Zurich CH
”Lovers Tragen”. Participatory Performance. Hartdurm, Zurich, CH
”Between Us Skin”. Performance. BK Public Programs, TU Delft, NL
”Casual Ties”, Visarte Kabinett, Zurich CH

2022
“Freedom Talks”. Performance. Window of Fame, Zurich.
“Chorizos for Mercedes”. Performance. Helmhaus, Zurich.

2021
“White, Things and Rituals”. Event. Shedhalle, Zurich CH.
“FOR SALE”. Window of Fame, Zurich, CH
“Teile deinen Teil”. Neu-Oerlikon Performance Series. Zurich, CH
“What is Our Dream?”. Closing performance. Helmhaus, Zurich, CH

2020
“What is Our Dream?”. Series of participatory performances. of release. Helmhaus, Zurich, CH
“Szennen für Zufriedenheit”. Performance. Intra Muros Kunstfestival, Winterthur
”Haus der Geschichten”. Drawing performance. Exhibition ‘In Transition’. Sennhof-Kyburg, CH

2019
“The Body of Our Time”. Solo exhibition. 2B_Space. Madrid, ES

2018
“Liquid Moments”. Solo exhibition. ARCO Madrid ES, Space NuBel-Zapaca
“Rosebud” Performance. Kurhaus Bergün CH
“407” Performance. Gallery Knoerle-Baettig, Winthertur CH
“Liquid Moments”. Live drawing. Gallery Knoerle-Baettig Winthertur CH
“While Making It Together”. Social Performance. Enable Conference, Ghent BE
“Dead, And A Cypress”. Performance. Environmental Humanities Switzerland, Zurich

2017
“While Making It Together”. Social Performance. Exhibition ADAPT-r. Ambika P3, London UK.

2016
“One Hair One Purpose”. Long-durational performance. Corner College, Zurich CH

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2024
”Trilogie Südtrottoir”, Hartdurm, Zurich CH
“Sharing Intimacies”. BK Public Programs, TU Delft, NL

2023
”Einsichten: Visarte Zürich & Friends”, Zurich CH
”Salon des Refusés”. FRIENDS, Zurich, CH

2022
”Best of Visarte”, Zurich CH
”Château Hornegg au Lac”, Zurich CH
”XXs”. Ziegler Galerie. Zurich CH
”Freedom of Skin”. Sound Installation. Neu-Oerlikon Performance Reihe. Zurich, CH
“Bang Bang”. Museum Tinguely. Basel CH
“It’s A Spring Show”. Ruettimann Contemporary. Zurich CH

2021
“Open Futures”. Installation “White and Black, Things and Rituals”. Shedhalle, Zurich CH.
“Atlantis im Sinn”, Zurich CH
“Found in Translation”, Zurich CH

2020
“Am nächsten Tag ging die Sonne auf”. Helmhaus, Zurich CH
“In Transition”. Sennhof-Kyburg, CH

2018
“Solid”. Gallery Knoerle-Baettig Contemporary, Winthertur CH

2017
“ADAPT-r” traveling exhibition. Ghent, Barcelona, Roma, Berlin, Karlsruhe, London, Paris
“ADAPT-r”. Ambika P3, London UK

2016
“ADAPT-r” traveling exhibition. Ghent, Barcelona, Roma, Berlin, Karlsruhe, London, Paris

GRANTS & AWARDS

2022
Arbeitsstipendium Covid 19, Stadt Zürich Kultur Bildende Kunst

2021
Studio Visits. prohelvetia
Arbeitsstipendium Covid 19, Stadt Zürich Kultur Bildende Kunst

2015
Fellowship ADAPT-r (Art Design Architecture Practice Training research) Marie Curie European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013, for practice-based research. 14-months residency in Brussels

PUBLICATIONS

2024
”Trilogie Südtrottoir”, Hartdurm, Zurich CH. Exhibition catalogue

2022
“51 Artists (Self) Portraits”. Thilo Hoffmann, Zurich, CH.

2020
“Am nächsten Tag ging die Sonne auf’ (The next day the sun rose). Helmhaus, Zürich, CH. Exhibition catalogue
In Transition, Sennhof-Kyburg CH. Exhibition catalogue
"Die Sehnsucht lebt weiter”. Article. Der Landbote. 12.09.2020

2016
Adapt-r, Exhibition catalogue

TEACHING

2023, 2024
Seminar + Mentoring, F+F School for Art and Design. Zurich, CH

2018, 2019
Master Interior Architecture Research + Design (MIARD), Piet Zwart Institute. Rotterdam, NL. Guest critic.

2017
Katholiek Universiteit Leuven - Sint Lucas Architecture. Ghent, BE. International Master, Design workshop.

2016
Katholiek Universiteit Leuven - Sint Lucas Architecture. Ghent, BE. International Master, Design workshop.
Zürcher Hochschüle der Künste ZHdk. Zurich, CH. Interdisciplinary Workshop.

2011, 2012
Istituto Europeo Di Design. Madrid, ES. Design Studio, interdisziplinäres Programm Total Design.
Universidad Europea. Madrid, ES. School of Architecture Bachelor. Theory Seminar.

2009
University Of Calgary, Faculty for Environmental Design. Barcelona, ES. International Master Design Studio.

2006-2007, 2007-2008
TU Delft, School of Architecture and Urban Planning, NL. International Master, Design Studios und Theory Seminar.

2007
Fontys Academie for the Arts. Tilburg, NL. Master Design Studio.