CURRICULUM VITAE
Born in Madrid, 1974. Lives and works in Brighton & London
“Predisposed to become an entrepreneur from an early age, the intersectionality of the visual arts keeps allowing me to navigate across disciplines. With this unconventional artist CV, I’m trying to give you an overview of that journey”
EDUCATION
2023 MA Sculpture at the Royal College of Art. London. UK
2021 Introduction to Oral History. The British Library. London. UK
2017 Cambridge Social Ventures. Cambridge. UK
2012 – Ongoing MOTHERHOOD, how to be a mum while juggling life
2009 Coutts Business Development Forum. Coutts Bank. London. UK
2008 Getting Started, an introduction to business for jewellers and silvermisths. The Goldsmiths’ Company. London. UK
2007 MA Design: Jewellery. Central St. Martin’s College of Art & Design. London. UK
2000 BFA Fine Arts. Erasmus Exchange Program at Hogeschool van de Kunsten. Utrecht. The Netherlands
1998 BFA Fine Arts. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Spain
1993 Gemmology. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Spain
1997 Goldsmith Diploma. Centro de estudios joyeros de Madrid. Spain
1993 BA History and Geography. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Spain (1 year)
RESIDENCIES & FELLOWSHIPS
2023 Collective Conversations. Residency with Social Circles Collective. Phoenix Art Space. Brighton. UK
2022 In Transit Space. Residency & Online Exhibition. International Platform
2021 Research Fellow at Centre for Spatial, Environmental and Cultural Politics.University of Brighton. UK
2017 Summer Lodge. Residency at Nottingham Trent University. UK
2005 Arts for social change. Residency with Pioneers of change. Johannesburg. South Africa
2003 Arte y saber (Art and knowledge). Residency with Arteleku. Donostia-San Sebastián. Basque Land. Spain
2002 Comunitat/community. Residency with Fundacio d’Estudis Superiors d’Olot.Coromina. La Garrotxa. Girona. Spain
2000 Who are we. Residency at Louka monastery. Znojmo. Czech Republic
AWARDS
“I have been incredibly lucky to have been able to thrive as an ethical jewellery designer, campaigning for better ethics within the industry while maintaining my arts practice”
2014 Winner. Open-Call Eastern Approaches. UH Galleries. Museum of St. Albans. UK.
2022 & 2017 Winner Designer of the Year. The National Association of Jewellers Awards
2019 Finalist Designer of the Year. The National Association of Jewellers Awards
2011 & 2010 Finalist New Designer of the Year. Retail Jeweller’s UK Jewellery Awards
2008 Finalist Student Designer of the Year. Retail Jeweller’s UK Jewellery Awards
2008 Highly Commended. Goldsmiths ‘Craft and Design Council. Goldsmith Awards
2007 Winner. Tanzanite ‘Celebration of Life’ Jewellery Design Awards
2022 Winner CSR Initiative of the Year. The National Association of Jewellers Awards
2020 Highly Commended Ethical Jewellery Business of the Year. Retail Jeweller’s UK Awards
2023 & 2022 Finalist CSR Retailer of the Year. Professional Jeweller Awards
2023 & 2019 Finalist CSR Initiative of the Year. The National Association of Jewellers Awards
2023, 2022, 2021, 2019 & 2017 Finalist Ethical Jewellery Business of the Year. Retail Jeweller’s UK Jewellery Awards
2023 Brand Champion Professional Jeweller’s Power List
2019 Winner International Wedding Awards. Local Rounds
2009 Winner Coutts New Jeweller Award
2023 Finalist Bridal Jewellery Business of the Year. Retail Jeweller’s UK Jewellery Awards
2019 Finalist Website of the Year. The National Association of Jewellers Awards
2016 Finalist East of England Business Champions. Small Business Awards
GRANTS & SPONSORSHIPS
2021 Project Grant Arts Council England. Grant for “Blunt Blades”. The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum. Bedford. UK
2020 Arts Council Emergency Response Fund
2015 GfdA Arts Council England. Grant for “Freehold”. UH Galleries. Museum of St. Albans. UK
2012 GfdA Arts Council England. Grant for “Lace in Place”. Bedford. UK
2004 Private Business. Sponsorship for ‘El Rosario de la Abuela’. Cebu city. The Philippines
2003 CBK Rotterdam. Exhibiting Abroad Grant for “Fotonoviembre”. Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Spain
2001 KF Heinfonds. Sponsorship for “post_puke_bunny@hotmail.com”. Moira Gallery. Utrecht. The Netherlands
2000 Hogeschool van de Kunsten. Grant for “Who are we”. Znojmo. Check Republic
Pritt. Henkel Nederland B.V. Sponshorship for“Bunker(t)raume”. Berlin. Germany
1999 Instituto Cervantes. Sponshorship for “Park van de toekomst”. Amsterdam. The Netherlands
Erasmus Grant. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Spain
2007 Tanzanite Foundation. Sponsorship for my Degree show at Central St. Martin’s
2007 HRA diamond company. Sponsorship for my Degree show at Central St. Martin’s
GUEST LECTURESHIPS & WORKSHOPS
2022 In Conversation with Sophie J Williamson and Xavier Ribas, moderated by Katy Beinart. Centre for Spatial, Environmental and Cultural Politics. University of Brighton. UK
2015 ColLaborate2. Guest lecturer. Bedford Creative Arts. Bedford. UK
2014 Weaving a Web. Socially engaged workshop. In collaboration with artist Aaron Head. Milton Keynes Gallery. UK
2005 Behaviours. Guest lecturer. University of Cebu. The Philippines
2019 Fair Luxury’s Inspire Seminars at IJL. International Jewellery London. UK
2018 Fair Luxury at the Royal College of Arts, London. UK
2017 FLUX: Fair Luxury Conference. The Assay Office Birmingham. UK
2017 A panel discussion: sustainable jewellery in conflict areas. ISKAR, London UK
2015 TEDx Talk. TEDxBedford. Ethical Jewellery. Click HERE to watch
2013 Associate Lecturer. Central Saint Martins, University of The Arts London. UK
2010 Canadian Women’s talk. Guest lecturer. Quebec house. London. Uk
2010 Aesthet(h)ics Society. Guest lecturer. Warwick University. Uk
2005 S.O.S. Children Villages. Fashion Jewellery Workshop. Johannesburg. South Africa
2005 CIDA Campus University. Fashion Jewellery Workshop. Johannesburg. South Africa
PROJECTS & COMMISSIONS
2022 Toxic Fragments; harvesting empathy & coping with ecological grief through touch. Fishing Quarter Gallery. Socially engaged workshop. Brighton. UK
2021 Toxic Waves I; Harvesting empathy and coping with ecological grief through drawing. Socially engaged performance. Brighton CCA. UK
Blunt Blades Exchange. Socially engaged art project. Supported by Quiet Down There with Women’s Support Centre Surrey. UK
2013 Laced words. Site-specific installation. In collaboration with artist Kathy Hinde. Commissioned by Bedford Creative Arts. 1 St Paul’s square. Bedford. UK
2012 Large Lace: A Choreography of People and Pattern. Socially engaged performance at Bunyan Hall. Commissioned by Bedford Creative Arts. UK
2012 Lace in Place. Site-specific installation of socially engaged art. Commissioned by Bedford Creative Arts. 1 St Paul’s square. Bedford. UK
2011 Fence Ragging. Guerilla textiles. Socially engaged art project. In collaboration with artist Dawn Giles. The Big Lunch. Bedford. UK
2000 Duurzaamheid Verbeeld. Site-specific project with Hogeschool van de Kunsten. Utrecht. The Netherlands
1999 Park van de toekomst. Project with Gerrit Rietveld Academie. Westergasfabriek. Amsterdam. The Netherlands
2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 The Water Project. Charitable Campaign with Lebrusan Studio
2022, 2023 One Tree Planted. Charitable Campaign with Lebrusan Studio
2021 Global March against Child Labour. Charitable Campaign with Lebrusan Studio
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 Blunt Blades – extended until July 2023. The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum. Bedford. UK
2015 Freehold. UH Galleries. Museum of St. Albans. St. Albans. UK
2004 El Rosario de la Abuela (Grandmother’s Rosary). In collaboration with Olga Parra Benavides. Lunâ Art Collective Gallery. Cebu. The Philippines
2001 post_puke_bunny@hotmail.com. Moira Gallery. Utrecht. The Netherlands
1999 El cuaderno rojo (The red notebook). In collaboration with Laia Fábregas Ferrús. Cervantes Institute. Utrecht. The Netherlands
GROUP EXHIBITION
2023 BRINK. Royal College of Art. London. UK
Hung, Drawn and Quartered. Standpoint Gallery. London. UK
Hands. Koop projects. Brighton. UK
2022 In & Beyond the Studio. Residency & Online Exhibition. In Transit Space, International Platform
Despite Extractivism. Extracting Us Collective. Online Platform
2020 In my house 4. Virtual exhibition. The AntiMA. Curator: Abigail Mille. UK
2016 Gothic Pleasures. Eagle Gallery. London. UK
2015 NN Open. NN Contemporary Art. Northampton. UK
MK Calling 2015. MK Gallery. Milton Keynes. UK
2014 Eastern Approaches. UH Galleries. Museum of St. Albans. St. Albans. UK
2013 Open Exhibition. Curated by Gareth Bell-Jones (Wysing Arts Centre) and Jennie Syson (SYSON Gallery). NN. Northampton. UK
2011 Eastern Pavilions. Norwich Museum and Art Gallery. Norwich. Atrium Studios. University Campus Suffolk. Ipswich. UK
2009 London Art Fair. Rebecca Hossack Gallery
2008 Art London. Rebecca Hossack Gallery
2008 Object as Muse. Crafts Council touring exhibition. UK
DNA. Rising talent at FORM London. London Olympia. London. UK
2005 Kunstroute Noord: Business as Usual. Artinfuse. Rotterdam. The Netherlands
2004 …prospecten van nooit vermoed schoon. Tent. Rotterdam. The Netherlands
2003 Fotonoviembre. Tenerife International Photography Biennial. Islas Canarias. Spain
2002 Eindelijk. Moira Gallery. Utrecht. The Netherlands
2001 Utrechtse Kunstmanifestatie. Janskerk. Janskerkhof. Utrecht. The Netherlands
Private in public. Exposorium.Vrije Universiteit. Amsterdam. The Netherlands
2000 Kunst met een grote U. Verzorgingscentrum Titus Brandsma. Utrecht. The Netherlands
Who are we. Louka monastery. Znojmo. Czech Republic
Duurzaamheid Verbeeld. Griftpark. Utrecht. The Netherlands
Bunker(t)raume. Gesundbrunnen bunker. Berlin. Germany
Park van de toekomst. Westergasfabriek. Amsterdam. The Netherlands
2009 Coutts London Jewellery Week. Coutts Bank, London
2008 TREASURE at the Tower of London
Craftsmanship and Design Awards. Goldsmiths Hall. London
DNA/ Form London. London Olympia
Art Hand Design. Central St. Martin’s, London
2007 Craftsmanship and Design Awards. Goldsmiths Hall. London.
COMMERCIAL COMMISSIONS & BUSINESS VENTURES
2001 Permanent Art Installation. Press Museum. Amsterdam. The Netherlands
Permanent Art Installation. Aboriginal Art MUSEUM. Utrecht. The Netherlands
2000 & 2001 Trophies-Sculptures for the Instituto Cervantes Literature awards. Utrecht. The Netherlands
2000 Trophies-Sculptures for the Music Awards “Dutch Jazz Competition”. Amsterdam. The Netherlands
1999, 2000, 2001, 2001, 2003, 2004 Trophies for the Music awards VNP. Vereniging Nederlandse Poppodia. Amsterdam. The Netherlands
2011 – Ongoing Lebrusan Studio. Ethical Jewellery Designer Brand. Owner
2019 – Ongoing The Vintage Ring Company. Antique Jewellery. Co-owner
2008 – 2011 Leblas jewellery. Ethical Jewellery Designer Brand. Co-owner and Creative Director
2011 Holts Academy of Jewellery. Creation of a new Ethical Jewellery Course
2008 London Fashion Week. Collaboration with fashion designer Scott Ramsay Kyle for his UK catwalk show
2007 Cred Jewellery. Design Consultant
2000-2007 Culture Mix. Head of Design. The Netherlands/ Hong Kong/ The Philippines
For individual jewellery commissions please visit: https://www.lebrusanstudio.com/collections/bespoke-jewels-gallery
PRINTED PRESS
2015 Exhibitions. Arabel Rosillo de Blas (Lebrusan) review by Skye Sherwin. The Guardian Guide. Jul 2015
Pick of the week. St Albans Museum. The Guardian Guide. Aug 2015
Solo Show Focus on St Albans. Hertfordshire Life Magazine. Jul 2015
Installation celebrates affluent city of St Albans. Hertfordshire Life Magazine. Jul 2015
Award-winner’s free exhibition. Welwyn Hatfield Tines Series. Jul 2015
2014 Artist Bag top prizes in Contest. Bedford Today. 11th Dec 2014
Arabel’s mixed media won the approval. St Albans & Harpenden Review. Dec 2014
2013 Almanac Festival. The Bedford Clanger. Feb 2013
2012 Lace in Place. Bedford Creative Arts goes Large. The Bedford Clanger. May 2012
Lace Inspiration. The Castle Quarter. Apr 2012
Lace in Place. The Castle Quarter. Jun 2012
Lace still in Place. The Castle Quarter. Aug 2012
2012 From sculpting to a lace record. Bedfordshire Times & Citizens. May 2012
Bedford Creative Arts unveiled its Lace in Place commission at 1 St Pail’s square in May. The Bedford Clanger. Jun 2012
Lace stays in Place. Hurrah! The Bedford Clanger. Aug 2012
Lace in Place – A response. The Lace society. Issue 198. Nov 2012
Lace in Place – Bedford. The world in Lace. Quarterly Journal of the International Bobbin and Needle Organisation. Nr 4. 2012
2005 Poppodium is meneer. de Volkskrant. Jun 2005. NL
2004 Grandmother should know. Cebu Daily News Life. April 2004
2001 Utrechtse kunst in Janskerk opvallend sober. Utrechts Nieuwsblad. Sept 2001
2001 Private in Public. Storing on een gebreide televisie. de Volkskrant. Mar 2001
2000 Waar Blijft ie toch? Rotterdams Dagblad. Jul 2000. NL
Im Gesundbrunnen-Bunker kam die Erinnerung zuruck. Berliner Abendblatt. May 2000. DE
Anstieg in die Unterwelt. Tagesspiegel. May 2000. DE
Nederlandse kunstenaars in Berlijnse ‘onderwereld’. Telegraaf. May 2000. NL
Utrechtse eierkunst in nazibunker. Utrechts Nieuwsblad. 2000. NL
ONLINE PRESS
2021 Exhibition with knives and weapons confiscated by the police comes to The Higgins Bedford. Bedford Today. Nov 2021
Contemporary Intervention by Leading Artist Arabel Lebrusan Opens at The Higgins Bedford: Blunt Blades. Bedford Borough Council. Nov 2021
Contemporary intervention by leading artist Arabel Lebrusan opens at The Higgins. Beds Bulletin. Nov 2021
Blunt Blades: Award-winning ethical jeweller Arabel Lebrusan recycles police-confiscated knives for new art exhibition. The NAJ. Nov 2021
2016 Gothic Pleasures. Review of the exhibition in Women in Art. Jun 2016
2014 Artwork exploring “hidden violence in homes” wins this year’s East Approaches competition. Watford observer. Dec 2014
2012 Celebrate town’s history of lace making. Bedfordhsire on Sunday. May 2012