AVA | Alexandra Victoria Alvarez
A qualitative and quantitative research approach towards art history and exhibition engagement from AVA GANZA . Our vibe is to use empirical aesthetics knowledge as a guide when discussing artworks. We bridge art and science with a lean towards a refreshing grammar style that makes our content relatable. We believe that text and research enhances the viewing experience and that it is important to invest in sharing the stories of artists and creators.
Writing Samples
The Best Exhibitions of 2023 according to 36 Art Professionals
La Canción Verde: A Walk Thru…
AVA is a writer that uses art and dance to provide context for her stories. She has had exhibitions in Texas, Mexico City, Australia, and London. Her performance arts practice includes modeling.
Oracle and writer of the book Panty Spliffs
A bilingual wearable poetry collection of 18 poems in an edition of 50, produced by OTRO in Mexico City, where it began as a performance. The title comes from Ava’s phrase for late conversations with friends: a smoke in our skivvies, philosophising with comrades. Written between London and Vienna, the poems explore how we turn lovers who hurt us into muses, moving through desire, grief, sensuality and moments of aliveness.
Una colección de poesía portátil bilingüe de 18 poemas en una edición de 50, producida por OTRO en la Ciudad de México, donde nació como performance. El título viene de la frase de Ava para las conversaciones largas con amigas: un cigarro en calzones, filosofando entre camaradas. Escritos entre Londres y Viena, los poemas exploran cómo convertimos en musas a los amantes que nos hirieron, entre el deseo, el duelo, la sensualidad y los momentos de estar viva.
Ava studies how people experience art when it moves from the gallery to digital and virtual reproductions, combining museum fieldwork with lab methods to measure what visitors see and feel in front of art.
Current research
How art experience changes between original artworks and their reproductions at the Belvedere Museum (FWF, P 37260)
Emotion sharing between artists and viewers using fNIRS hyperscanning, and eye tracking with Rossana Romero and Eilen Itzel Espiritu do Santo
Experience types in museums and virtual art galleries including Rothko, Monet, Basquiat and more (OSF Registries, 2026)
Publications: Google Scholar · ORCID · ResearchGate · CV
Methods and skills
Study design and large-scale museum visitor studies
Mobile eye tracking (Pupil Labs) and fNIRS hyperscanning
R and Python: linear mixed-effects models, latent profile analysis, qualitative coding and basic computational psychology
VR and digital experimental environments
Open science, grant writing, supervising students and teaching methods workshops
for full modeling portfolio please contact info@otro.art
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 55.5kg
Hips: 36.5 inches
Waist: 27.5 inches
Bust: 33 inches
UK Dress size: 8
US Dress size: 4
IT Shoe size: 39
US Shoe size: 9
Background: Mexican/ American
Hair: Curly Brown
Eye: Grey / Cobalt
Born: 1992
AVA GANZA is Ava’s creative studio and imprint, a home for everything that happens when an art historian, a scientist and a poet share one body. It began as a way to write about art without losing the feeling of standing in front of it, and has grown into a space for writing, publishing, performance and collaboration.
avaganza.substack.com for essays
