Greta de León

Greta de León, originally from Mexico City, has a background in Art History and Museology. Currently, she holds the position of Executive Director at The Americas Research Network (ARENET / arenet.org).

Her interest lies in Curatorial Activism, engaging in initiatives that challenge dominant narratives and languages as a form of counter-hegemonic practice. By focusing on the intersections of academic research, representation, equality, social justice, and the problem of countering erasure, she is committed to disseminating knowledge generated by academic and public communities to effectively challenge and address these important issues. She explores the evolution of museums and other exhibition spaces as they grapple with unresolved trauma and its cultural consequences that span centuries. With a commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing innovative approaches, she actively contributes to the ongoing conversation on how museums can effectively confront and address these complex legacies by creating spaces and coordinating programs such as ARENET's Language(s) + Museum(s) program, and World Museologies (Directed by Anthony Shelton).

As a curator, Greta has organized numerous exhibitions, including Xicanx: Dreamers + Changemakers| soñadores y creadores del cambio at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC in 2022. The exhibition showcased for the first time in Canada the rich traditions and activism of Xicanx artists, (xicanxart.com). She also curated Mexican Cycles | Ciclos de México showcasing the linguistic and cultural diversity of Mexico through images by the photographer George O. Jackson. This exhibition was displayed at the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution, and at the Museo Nacional de Antropología in México. She has also curated exhibits at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC and San Antonio, as well as galleries such as Galeria La Agencia, La Circunstancia, Galeria VAU, Connecteur Galerie, and Galerie Le Cube. She has organized exhibitions in non-traditional spaces such as public transportation, libraries, and street art venues.

Concurrent with her professional endeavors, Greta serves on several international boards. She is an accomplished poet with a range of works, including three published books, scholarly publications, translations, and reviews.