Biography

Scholarship holder from the Foundation for Science and Technology in the PhD Programm in History, specialization in Contemporary History, from NOVA FCSH. The thesis project investigates the relationship between decolonial thought, contemporary art, and cultural institutions. It focuses on a set of artistic practices that propose new ways of relating to politics of history and memory and that reflect ongoing social changes and transnational debates.

Between 2011 and 2021 she was Director of Education and Public Programs at the Whitechapel Gallery, London, taking on roles in terms of artistic programming, curatorship, community projects, schools and academic institutions; discursive and performative programs; strategic development and international collaborations. Previously, she was Coordinator of the Educational Service of the Serralves Foundation (2002-2011). She has taught at the Masters “Curating the Contemporary” (London Metropolitan University), “Contemporary Art and Education” (Goldsmiths, University of London), “Curating Art and Public Programs” (London South Bank University).

She is currently a member of the Advisory Board of the “Documents of Contemporary Art series”, co-edited by Whitechapel Gallery and MIT Press.

Research fields

• Contemporary art
• Curatorship
• Education
• Postcolonial studies

Selected publications

• Victorino, Sofia, “In a Moment of Tenderness the Future Seems Possible,” in Creating Dangerously: A Postscript to Sharjah Biennial 14, edited by Omar Kholeif. Sharjah: Sharjah Art Foundation, 2021. [link]
• Victorino, Sofia, “To Hold My Breath,” in Making New Time, Sharjah Biennial 14: Leaving the Echo Chamber, edited by Omar Kholeif, 253-256. Sharjah: Sharjah Art Foundation, 2019. [link]
• Victorino, Sofia, “Theaster Gates: Soul Manufacturing Corporation,” in New Materialism, edited by Magnus af Petersens and Caroline Elgh Klingborg. Stockholm: Art and Theory Publishing / Bonniers Konsthall, 2018. [link]
• Victorino, Sofia, “Por Uma Pedagogia do Afeto,” in O Nome do Medo, organised by Lisette Lagnado, 100-111. Rio de Janeiro: Museu de Arte do Rio, 2017. [PDF]

Main projects

• “The Contribution of Contemporary Artistic Practices to Decolonise Art Institutions” — PhD thesis to be presented to the NOVA School of Social Sciences and Humanities, supervised by Manuela Ribeiro Sanches and José Neves (IHC — NOVA FCSH). Individual PhD project funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (UI/BD/151035/2021). 2021-