Beatriz Valls-Rodriguez, also known as Bea Valls, was born in Madrid, Spain. Bea is a socially-engaged artist, educator, and social scientist researcher with a humanist perspective, who considers herself a facilitator to bring talents together. Her participatory and interdisciplinary approach provokes the viewers to pause, question and recognise themselves in the world, while cultivating a sense of belonging to the community and to the world. Her work is multimedia and site-specific.
Bea is currently writing her Ph.D in Sociology with International Mention at Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Her thesis titled “El arte social como estrategia y herramienta innovadora para concienciar la creatividad social y aportar cultura de diversidad e inclusion” studies the use of Social Creativity and Participatory Methodologies in Contemporary Art using the case study with Sages & Seekers, an intergenerational non-for-profit that combats social isolation and ageism through conversation to demonstrate her view.
In 2015 she founded TransArtMethods, an innovative consultant art studio that integrates the community with the public and/or private sectors with tailored creative project-based liaisons developing the practice of respect, collaboration, and inclusivity in our fast changing global world. Valls has taught at Otis College of Art and Design at the Dept. of Social Action, and she is an Art Professor at Glendale Community College as well as at The Waverly School for middle and high school.
Education Ph.D. in Social Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, 2024 Certificate on Visible Thinking, Graduate School of Education, Harvard, MA, USA, 2014. MFA, Masters of Fine Arts in Public Practice, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA, 2012. ABD, Diploma de Estudios Avanzados (All But Dissertation): Proyectos artísticos para la sensibilización en el espacio público. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, 2011. MA, Applied Creativity, Cultural Studies and Fine Arts, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, 2010. BFA, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Accademia dell Belle Arti di Brera, Milan, Italy, 2007. BS, Bachelor of Social Sciences, specialised in Culture,Knowledge and Communication, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain, 2003.
Contact beatrizvallsrodriguez@gmail.com