Amparo Escolano Mena

Owner and Senior Conservator of Papers and Paintings

Amparo Escolano holds a degree in Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art from the Escuela de Conservación y Restauración de Obras de Arte in Madrid (1984) and a degree in Fine Arts with a specialization in Art Conservation from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (1986). After five years working as a conservator at the Museo Cerralbo in Madrid, she moved into academia as a Painting Conservation instructor at the University of Granada, Spain. In 2003, she relocated to Florida, USA, where she has worked as a private practice conservator, while also giving lectures and collaborating on research and development projects with various institutions, organizations, and companies across Europe and the United States.

EDUCATION

  • Doctoral program in Conservation of Fine Arts. University of Granada, Spain 1993. Research Proficiency Certificate.
  • Master of Arts, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain, 1987, Degree Specialty: Conservation and Restoration of Fine Arts.
  • Bachelor of Arts. School of Conservation and Restoration of Works od Art, Madrid, Spain, 1983.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Member (Professional Associate, peer-reviewed), American Institute for Conservation (AIC)
  • Member, Southeast Regional Conservation Association (SERCA) – Newsletter Editor

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Since 2009 – Owner and CEO, South Florida Art Conservation. Conservation and restoration of contemporary and traditional paintings, works on paper, sculpture, and objects.
  • 2011–2014 – Associate Conservator, Paintings, Paper, and Objects, James Swope Fine Arts Conservation, Conservation and restoration of contemporary and traditional works on paper, paintings, and objects.
  • 2003–2009 – Senior Conservator, Paper and Paintings, The Fine Arts Conservancy / Stoneledge, Inc.  Conservation and restoration of contemporary and traditional works on paper, sculpture, objects, and paintings.
  • 1990–2002 – Professor of Art Conservation, Graduate Faculty, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Granada
  • 1985–1990 – Paintings Conservator, Cerralbo Museum, Madrid
  • 1984–1985 – Paintings Conservator, Palacio de las Cortes, Madrid1983–1984 – Paintings Conservator, Instituto de Conservación y Restauración de Obras de Arte, Madrid

R&D PROJECTS

  • 2023–2026
  • Non-Invasive Characterization and Conservation of Translucent and Lignified Supports in Graphic Documents. Ministry of Science and Innovation. Spanish State R&D Plan 2022.
  • 2020–2022
  • Non-Invasive Analytical Techniques for the Study of Cultural Heritage. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Operational Program 2018.2015–2019
  • New Approaches to the Study of Materials and the Processes of Conservation and Restoration of Graphic Art and Documentary Heritage. Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.

COURSES & WORKSHOPS

  • Course “Inpainting 360°: Strategies, Materials and Techniques
    • Museo Nacional de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain. November 2025
  • Course “Water, Paper and Bath Salts”
    • Atelier of Conservation Minium. Almeria, Spain September 2025
    • Atelier of Conservation Minium. Almeria, Spain January 2024
  • Course Advanced Cleaning Techniques
    • Master of Arts Granada University, Granada, Spain. January 2024
    • Master of Arts Granada University, Granada, Spain. January 2025
  • Course Advanced Inpainting Techniques
    • Master of Arts Granada University, Granada, Spain. January 2025
    • Master of Arts Granada University, Granada, Spain. January 2024
  • Course “Inpainting and Loss Compensation in Paper Conservation
    • October 2022 – Nasjonalmuseet for Kunst, Arkitektur og Design, Oslo, Norway
    • October 2019 – Atelier pour le Papier, Iberdone-les Bains, Switzerland
    • January 2019 – Restauratoren Nederland, Omstreken Archief, Leiden, The Netherlands
    • October 2018 – College of Fine Arts, Granada, Spain
    • October 2018 – Premia de Mar, Barcelona, Spain
    • April 2018 – Institut National du Patrimoine (INP), Aubervilliers, Paris, France
    • December 2017 – Premia de Mar, Barcelona, Spain
    • October 2017 – Restauratoren Nederland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    • December 2016 – Premia de Mar, Barcelona, Spain

LECTURES

  • January 2025 – Managing Conductivity: Controlled Washing of Works on Paper, Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España
  • May 2020 – Paper, Water and Bath Salts, Papers on the Balcony, Granada University
  • March 2019 – Application of Wolbers Techniques in Paper Conservation: Keeping Things Real, SERCA meeting, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
  • October 2017 – The Suitability of Powdered Micro-Cellulose for its Use in Paper Conservation, RECH meeting, Split, Croatia
  • March 2017 – Alternative Solvents to Remove Tapes and Tape Stains, SERCA meeting, Atlanta, Georgia

PUBLICATIONS

  • ESCOLANO, A.; WATKINS S. NEWELL, G. (2021). Agua, Papel y Sales de Baño. En M. T. Espejo Arias (Coord.), Papeles en el balcón (pp. XX-YY). Editorial Universidad de Granada, p. 111-131
  • REYES-PEREZ, A., ESPEJO, T., GARCIA, M., ESCOLANO, A., GOMEZ, N., (2021). Under the spotlight: A new tool (artificial light radiation) to bleach paper documents. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 52. p. 184-191.
  • UDINA, R.; ESCOLANO, A. (2017)“The Suitability of powdered micro-crystalline cellulose for its use in paper conservation”. A: BAILÂO, A.; SUSTIC, S. (eds.). 4th International Meeting on Retouching of Cultural Heritage, RECH4. Croacia: University of Split: Academy of Arts, 2017, p. 56-65.

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION

  • Techniques for Washing Works of Art on Paper, with Richard Wolbers, ReNewell, Columbia,South Carolina
  • Emulsion Cleaning Systems for Fine Art Surfaces with Richard Wolbers, (SERCA – Charleston, South Carolina).
  • Mastering Inpainting. With James Bernstein and Rebecca Pollak. (Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida).
  • Italian Approaches to the Structural Conservation of Paintings: Past, Present and Future. With Matteo Rossi Doria. (West Lake Conservators, Skaneateles, New York).
  • Tear Repair of Paintings. (The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works with the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut).
  • New Methods of Cleaning Surfaces of Paintings with Richard Wolbers. (SERCA Southeast Regional Conservation Association, West Palm Beach, Florida).