About

I am an urban researcher, lecturer, and designer with a robust academic trajectory and fluency across a wide range of creative practices. My work bridges research and practice, with a focus on activism, social justice, and applied methodologies.

I currently serve as an Associate Researcher in Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Derby. My professional background includes work with museums and other cultural institutions, where I have contributed to interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of culture, community, and urban transformation.

In 2024, I completed my PhD at the Centre for Research in Education, Arts, and Media (CREAM), University of Westminster. My doctoral thesis, Latin London: Representation, Diaspora, and the Latin American Community in London, critically examines issues of identity, visibility, and belonging within urban diasporic contexts.

My research interests lie in contemporary artistic and design practices that engage with political and social concerns, particularly those aimed at improving the lives of marginalised communities in urban environments.

Research interests

I have a keen interest in contemporary artistic practices that aim to raise political concerns to improve the lives of communities at risk within cities, particularly Latin Americans in the UK, and urban change. 

Recent publications

• Posada Alvarez, V, & Román-Velázquez, P., (upcoming). Tropical Remittances: Latin American urbanism in London. Journal of Visual Culture
• Posada Alvarez, V. (upcoming). Latinas: The visual culture politics of Latin American women in London. Journal of Visual Culture
• McMahon, D., Posada-Alvarez V.,  & Giese J. (upcoming). Voices Across the Airwaves: Gendered Memories of Sports Radio in the Irish Diaspora. Journal of Media Culture and Society
• Posada Alvarez, V. (2024). Latin London: Representation of Life in The Diaspora. The Latin American Community In London–1970s Onwards (Doctoral dissertation, University of Westminster)
• Posada Alvarez, V. (2020). Cartografía como herramienta sociopolítica para la comunicación gráfica. Colegiatura Colombiana Ed
• Gil Alzate, A., Castro Torres, F. A., & Posada Álvarez, V. (2020). Investigar la identidad de género: representaciones colectivas, comunicación y lenguaje. Anagramas-Rumbos y sentidos de la comunicación-, 19(37), 87-109
• Posada Alvarez, V. (2017). Fotografía y cambios urbanos: el caso de la comunidad latinoamericana en Londres. Artefacto Visual, 2(3), 80

Membership of professional bodies

• Visiting Research Fellow, Institute of Advance Studies UCL (2025-2026)
• Associate Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy
• British Academy Early Career Researcher Network
• Colfuturo PhD Funding, Talent that Transforms (2019 - 2024). Colombia
• Funding PhD Sapiencia (2018). Colombia
• Speculative Worlds Research Collective. UCL (2024- Ongoing). London
• Wards Corner Community Coalition, collaborator (2024- Ongoing). London
• Change Makers Programme LAWA (Latin American Women’s Aid), (2023- Ongoing). London

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy - CREAM Research Centre in Education, Arts and Media, School of Arts, University of Westminster, London (2018-2023). Thesis title: “Latin London: A life in the diaspora. Representation, Diaspora and the Latin American Community in London. –1970s onwards” Supervised by: Dr Margherita Sprio and Professor David Bate
• MA Arts and Visual Culture (Distinction). School of Humanities, University of Westminster, London (2016-2017)
• BA Graphic Design (Distinction). School of Architecture and Design, Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia (2010-2014)
• Certificate in Communication and Creative Methodologies for Teaching
• Colegiatura Colombiana, Medellín, Colombia (2018-2019)

Recent conferences

• Talk, Panel ‘Mapping Latinx Studies: Arts, Literature and Culture in the US and the UK’. ‘From Abya Yala to Latin London: A Woman-made Community, SLAS CONFERENCE 2025, University of Bristol
• Talk, Visibility for Latin London, Homelands Knowledge Exchange (Hub for Migration, Exiles, Languages and Spaces) (2024). University of Westminster, London
• Talk entitled A Diaspora is a Spore, Arts-Based Research. Una diáspora es una espora, investigación creación (2023). Creative Participatory Research with the Latin American Community in the UK. University of Reading
• Talk, Latin London Memories, Conference on Migration and Diaspora, Homelands (Hub for Migration, Exiles, Languages and Spaces) (2023). University of Westminster, London
• Talk, Community for Social Change Podcast Latin London: A life in the diaspora: Collective tools for social justice and human development. 9th Explorations in Ethnography, Language and Communication Conference (2023). IOES, UCL, London

Experience in industry

• Graphic Design, Museography and Data Visualisation. Some Projects and Clients: UCL Geography, Professor Ayona Datta project Digitising the Periphery, CREAM (Research Centre in Education Arts and Media, University of Westminster), PICUM (Platform for the rights of undocumented migrants in Europe), LAWA (Latin American Women’s Aid) LAWRS (Latin American Women’s Right Service), University of Twente,  and Latin Elephant
• Podcast UpRooted, Colombian Families and Exiles in the UK, Institute of Arts and Humanities, University of Southampton, Diaspora Women and Conciliation Resources (2023), London
• Podcast Latin London, the life of Latin Americans in London, University of Westminster, Arts-Based Research Project (2021-Ongoing), London
• Workshops for Diaspora Women Collective, Communication and Creativity for Peace Making, University of Reading, Diaspora Women and Conciliation Resources (2022), London
• Photography in Virtual Culture Conference Podcast CREAM (Centre for Research in Education, Arts and Media) (2024), London
• Podcast Beyond the Bassline, British Library. REAM (Centre for Research in Education, Arts and Media) (2024), London
• Mapping Memories. Research Tool and Visualisation Platform for Latinxs in London (2016-2018). Cartography, Archives, Collage and Design
• Associate Lecturer, Colegiatura Colombiana de Diseño, Medellín, Colombia (2017-2021)
• Full-time Communications, Museography and Design, Communications Department. Museum of Antioquia (2013-2015), Medellín, Colombia

International experience

• Lecturer and Researcher in Design, Media, History and Communication (2017- 2021). Colegiatura. Medellín, Colombia
• Contemporary Sociocultural Theories (2017- 2019). Colegiatura Colombiana. Medellín, Colombia 
• Design for Final Project, Dissertation Module (2018- 2021). Colegiatura. Medellín, Colombia
• Design History (2018- 2021). Colegiatura Colombiana de Diseño. Medellín, Colombia
• Research Seminar Coordinator, Aesthetics and The City (2018-2019). Colegiatura. Medellín, Colombia

Teaching responsibilities

I taught courses related to Human Geography, Visual Culture, Design and Sociocultural Theories.

Additional interests and activities

Funding obtained:

• GER Globally Engaged Research University of Westminster 
• British Academy Small Research Grant 2025 SRG25\250898 
• Colfuturo PhD Funding
• Sapiencia PhD Funding