Sergio Pardo López is an arts administrator, curator, and architect based in New York City. He currently is Director at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Through his 15+ years of experience, Sergio has specialized in cultural polices, creative placemaking and public art, developing his career through a multidisciplinary perspective.
He has participated in the curation and management of projects with institutions such as the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, The Spanish Pavilion at the 10th and 17th Annual Venice Architecture Biennale, The Canal de Isabel II Foundation, La Casa Encendida in Madrid, and the management of one of Spanish largest photography private collections, the Lola Garrido Collection.
Over the last five years, he has advised federal and city governments globally, as well as international companies, in implementing cultural policies and initiatives that use culture as a tool for social engagement, civic pride, and economic development; including, the Norwegian Government, Guatemala City and Phipps Houses, to name a few. Most recently Sergio has been appointed First Creative Mediator for the upcoming edition of the biennial Manifesta, which will take place in Barcelona in 2024.
In his position as Director of the Percent for Art Program at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Sergio leads pioneering programs in the discipline of public art, currently managing over 200 permanent and temporary projects and a budget of $25+M.
Additionally, Sergio is a a guest lecture at various universities and educational institutions, including Cornell University, Christie’s Education, and TED in Spanish. His work has been featured in the New York Times, The Art Newspaper, The Guardian and El País.
Sergio has a Bachelor and Master of Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Madrid (ETSAM). He was also a Rafael del Pino Foundation Scholar at the Illinois Institute of Technology and a Fulbright Scholar at New York University, where he earned his Master in Visual Arts Administration.