Maria Carolina Peña Mariño

My passion for combining art, humanities, and science led me to pursue a professional career as a paintings conservator.

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I completed a five-year undergraduate degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at Universidad Externado de Colombia, graduating with honors in 2011. Following my degree, I gained several years of professional experience working as a freelancer for museums and private collectors in Bogotá. During this time, my interest in academic research into painting techniques and materials grew, along with a profound desire to elevate my professional standards.

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In September 2018, I was selected by the Hamilton Kerr Institute, University of Cambridge, for a two-year Postgraduate Advanced Internship in the Conservation of Easel Paintings. In 2022, I further advanced my career by becoming a Lindsay Conservation Fellow at The National Gallery, London.

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This year, I had the opportunity to work on a big retouching project for a renowned conservation studio in London. I have since relocated back to Colombia, where I am currently working as a freelance conservator.