Ester Alba Pagán

Ester Alba Pagán is an Associate Professor in the Department of History of Art at the Faculty of Geography and History, University of Valencia, where she has been a key academic figure since earning her doctorate in 2003. She currently serves as Vice-Rector of Culture and Sports at the University of Valencia, a role she has held since 2020, reflecting her leadership in cultural and academic affairs.

Her research spans a rich interdisciplinary terrain, with core interests in 19th-century Spanish art, Valencian art and heritage, museum studies, gender and art, textile and silk heritage, digital humanities, and cultural sustainability. She is actively involved in cutting-edge projects such as SILKNOW and DINA, and contributes to the VALuART research group focused on university art, museums, and visual culture from 1750 to the present.

The analysis of her recent publications (2020–2025) reveals a strong trajectory toward digital heritage, gender-inclusive museology, and the application of technology in cultural education and preservation. Her work increasingly emphasizes sustainability, ethical curation, and the democratization of heritage through digital tools, interactive maps, and multilingual thesauri. Themes of women in the art system, creative industries, and public history recur, demonstrating a commitment to inclusive and socially engaged scholarship.

• Contributor, Spanish Biographical Dictionary, Royal Academy of History
• Author of books on Valencian painting, art criticism, Manises Airport, and Andilla’s Church
• Active in research projects related to design archives, textile heritage, and digital sustainability

She has contributed significantly to cultural policy and university heritage management, particularly through her leadership at Centre Cultural La Nau. While no formal list of advisees is provided, her supervisory role is implied through her academic leadership and PhD supervision (e.g., her own thesis was supervised). She has not received explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided texts. Her work bridges academic research, public engagement, and institutional leadership, positioning her as a central figure in contemporary Spanish art historical and cultural discourse.