José García Oliva is a Venezuelan artist based in London. His practice is research-led and situated at the intersection between diasporic identity, migrant labour, and cultural heritage. The outcome of his work is usually an enactment of social exchanges or provocations shaped by the commons, site-specificity and the people with whom he collaborates. Oliva graduated from the Royal College of Art, London, in 2020 and completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Madrid with a mobility grant from the Ministry of Education. Oliva currently leads the MA in Visual Communication at Ravensbourne University and is an associate lecturer at Central Saint Martins and Kingston School of Art. 


Instagram: @olivajosec
Press
2025 Artists Announced for flagship arts programmes at Metal
V&A / Identity, belonging and resilience: six Latinx artists in London you need to know
Corridor8 / José Garcia Oliva in conversation with Lauren Velvick
Tribune / We Are Not the Dirt We Clean by Henry Broome
Gasworks / José García Oliva / Participation Residency Artist
BBC / Cleaners and security staff display art in uni show 
Lancaster University / Lancaster Arts launch ‘Out of Hours’
exhibition featuring University staff work
e-flux / Programme, Gasworks 2024
José García OLIVA: Navigating the ethics of doing in participatory art
RCA / Finding the format that best communicates the message
Lancaster Arts / Out of Hours: Research and Development
Art Monthly / (468) José García Oliva:
How May I Serve You? by Laura Bivolaru
It’s Nice That / Unpacking call centres, labour and
colonialism with José García Oliva
Mutual Art / De, Desde, En, Entre, Hacia – Set Woolwich
M2 Gallery / Displacement
Art Rabbit / José García Oliva - Displacement
Casa Wabi / José García Oliva - Residency
Lancaster Arts / Traces
Art Rabbit / Residency 2022 - Final show - José García Oliva 
BBC / Cleaners' Covid efforts celebrated in artwork
Lancaster Guardian / Traces
Lancaster University / University cleaners to create a real sparkle
Window Cleaner Society / Complaint Choir
LADA / DIY 2020: José García Oliva – White Vinegar
ARC (The Dirty Issue) / Latinos Are Very Serviceable
Royal College of Art / Degree Show 2020
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José García Oliva
Whispers Amidst the Noise
Wringer
Landscapes
24 co-ordinates
Mano Vuelta
Traces
Removed for Conservation
Topologies
Arepa Viuda
How May I Serve You?
Un Toque
People Here Like That
Games People Play
Work