Ana Alba is the owner and chief conservator of Alba Art Conservation. Ana earned her Masters and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Art Conservation with a specialty of painting conservation from the State University of New York at Buffalo State College and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art History from the University of Florida.
Her clients include: The National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington and Jefferson College, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum.
She has previously held internships at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the Wadsworth Atheneum and was the William R. Leisher Fellow of the Conservation of Modern and Contemporary Paintings at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
She has also worked for Luca Bonetti Corp., a private conservation practice in New York City specializing in the conservation of modern and contemporary paintings previous to her move to Pittsburgh, PA. Ana has frequently lectured about conservation in public galleries in addition to professional conferences. Ana is also a professional associate member of the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
Current Contracts and Previously Held Positions
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C. February 2018 - January 2019
Position: Contract Painting Conservator
The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. October 2015 - September 2019
Position: Contract Painting Conservator
Luca Bonetti Corp. February 2013 - November 2014
Position: Painting Conservator
The National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. October 2010 - January 2013
Position: William R. Leisher Fellow in the Research and Treatment of Modern Paintings
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C. September 2009 - September 2010
Position: Contract Painting Conservator
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C. September 2008 - September 2009
Position: Painting Conservation Third Year Intern
Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut June 1, 2007- July 31, 2007
Position: Painting Conservation Intern
Gulf Coast Art Conservation, Bradenton, Florida August2005 - May 2007
Position: Conservation Intern
H.B. Plant Museum, Tampa, Florida January 1, 2006- March 2006
Position: Assistant to the Curator
Publications
“A Question of Technique: Condition Issues Associated with Layering Structure in Richard Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park Series” with Susan Lake, Mel Wachowiak, Jennifer Giaccai, Paintings Specialty Group Postprints, 2010
"Protecting Your Paintings: Tips on Preventing Damage to Your Valuable Heirlooms" Women's Business Network, Inc., August newsletter, Volume 8, Issue 8, 2015
Talks and Lectures
International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, 2015 Student & Emerging Conservator Conference, Panelist discussing bridging the gap between studies and work, IIC, Warsaw, Poland, October 16, 2015 : https://www.iiconservation.org/student-conferences/2015warsaw/technical
ECPN/CIPP Discussion Panel, Panelist discussing starting a conservation business: First six months, AIC, Miami, Florida annual conference, May 12, 2014
“Relating Artist Technique and Materials to Condition in Richard Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park Series” AIC, Albuquerque annual conference, NM, May 9, 2012
“How to move a collection in 10 steps: The Hirshhorn’s Painting Collection Move to Off-site Storage” Washington, D.C. The Washington Conservation Guild, January 6, 2011.
“A Question of Technique: Condition Issues Associated with Layering Structure in Richard Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park Series” AIC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin annual conference, May 14, 2010
“Highlights from the Hirshhorn: Materials Analysis of Richard Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park #111 and Paintings Survey for the Move to Pod 3”, 2nd annual SI Conservation Conference, June 25, 2009
Podcast on Richard Diebenkorn's materials and condition issues- http://blogs.artinfo.com/modernartnotes/2012/06/the-modern-art-notes-podcast-ocean-park/
Awards
2015 - Entrepreneurial Fellowship to attend and exhibit at the Pittsburgh Technology Council's CREATE Festival, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 11-12
Memberships
American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), Professional Associate, 2007-2018
Women's Business Network, Inc. (WBN), 2018
Greater Pittsburgh Art's Council (GPAC), Advisory Committee, 2014-2016
Washington Conservation Guild (WCG), Director and Intern Coordinator, 2008-2018
International Network for the Conservation of Contemporary Art (INCCA), 2009-2018
American Alliance of Museums, 2013-2015