Yuji Kawasima

Yuji Kawasima has a PhD in Art History from Universidad Complutense de Madrid. His work as a researcher, teacher, and curator focuses on contemporary art and design practices, especially in the Latin American cultural context. His PhD thesis Leonilson, São Paulo - Madrid, 1981 put forward a historiographical review of the migrant and queer experiences of Leonilson —an essential reference on contemporary Brazilian art—. Kawasima has also collaborated as a researcher in Leonilson’s critical catalog, published articles in academic journals and this artist’s catalogs for exhibitions in the US and Europe, and is currently working on a book about the artist to be published by Editorial Cátedra. In parallel, he is working on the edition of Quema de archivo: historias, imágenes y documentos en una biblioteca seropositiva, a book focused on artistic works conceived during the HIV/AIDS crisis in Spain, Chile, Colombia, and Brazil.

Previously, he taught at ESNE - UDIT (Escuela Universitaria de Diseño y Tecnología). Previously, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Instituto Europeo de Diseño de Madrid. Additionally, he coordinated the postgraduate programs at the Museo Reina Sofía’s Studies Center from 2019 to 2021. He has received financing for training and research activities from the Spanish Ministry of Culture, Bank of Spain, Museo del Prado, Banco Santander, and the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. He conducted research stays at Universidade de São Paulo and Center for Book Arts New York. His work has been presented at New York University and City University of New York, St. Andrews University, among other research centers. His published works include articles in prestigious academic journals such as Goya and culture-related media, such as Babelia-El País, Exit-Express and Utopía. He was an Editorial Board of L’Internationale Online member from 2019 to 2021. He collaborated with curatorial and educational projects at institutions such as Museo Reina Sofía, Centro de Arte Dos de Mayo, São Paulo Art Book Fair, and Salón Regional de Artistas de la Zona Pacífico de Colombia, among others.

In addition to his art-related projects, Kawasima has developed a keen interest in fashion design. His expertise extends to exploring the relationship between fashion design and art production, including research projects on the Japanese fashion brand Comme des Garçons, and teaching various disciplines related to Fashion History and Theory. In 2023, he completed specialized training in artisanal tailoring at La Confianza Spanish Tailoring School. 

Academic Experience

• Assistant Professor, IE University, Spain, 2024 - Present 

• Adjunct Professor in the Fashion Design Degree, ESNE-UDIT, Spain, 2022 - 2024

• Co-Coordinator in the postgraduate programs of the Museo Reina Sofía’s Study Center, Spain, 2019 - 2021

• Adjunct Professor in the Graphic Design Degree, Instituto Europeo de Diseño - Madrid, Spain, 2018 - 2019

• Teaching Assistant in the Art History Degree, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, 2015 - 2018

Academic Background

• PhD in Art History, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Spain, 2018

• Master in Contemporary Art History And Visual Culture, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), and Museo Reina Sofía (MNCARS), Spain, 2013

• Bachelor in Social Communication (Media Studies), Universidad Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Brasil, 2011

Selected Publications

• Kawasima, Y., Lenzi, I. (2023). “Nobody gave me a ride: interview with Cybèle Varela”. In Magalhães,A. & Varela Braga, A. (Eds.) Cybèle Varela: Trajectories. Milan: Silvana Editoriale 

• Kawasima, Y.  (2019). “Negociando (con) la modernidad: Cuatro aproximaciones al coleccionismo de las vanguardias europeas en São Paulo (1920-1950)”. Revista Goya (367): 154-171 

• Kawasima, Y. (2018). “Sobre ‘pañitos’ y ‘trapos’: Algunos puntos entre las obras de Leonilson y Rei Kawakubo”. Revista Efímera, 9(10): 95-121