Insights of an Eco Artist (IOAEA) opens submissions for Undercurrents, a new critical review series turning its attention to artists whose work sits at the meeting point of ecological urgency, political resistance, and formal experimentation.

About Undercurrents

Undercurrents is a critical review series built around one question: what does it mean for an artwork to resist?

Each review sits with an artist's practice; not just what it depicts, but what it refuses, disrupts, or reroutes, and places that work inside the wider frameworks of ecological and political thought shaping art right now. 

Each review is a close, situated reading: part criticism, part conversation, aimed at artists whose work doesn't just respond to the crisis of our moment but actively pushes back against it.

About IOAEA

IOAEA (Insights of an Eco Artist) is an art organization dedicated to showcasing the work of artists who are addressing pressing ecological and social challenges through their creative practices.

Founded in 2021 by Joana Alarcão, IOAEA started as an archive: a place to gather and hold the work of artists engaging with ecological and social urgency. It has since grown into something more alive: an ongoing exchange of editorial writing, residencies, exhibitions, and live conversation.

IOAEA operates as a transnational organisation, alternating its exhibitions and events between Lisbon and London. This dual-city approach fosters cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration among artists, curators, researchers, and activists working at the intersection of art, ecology, and social justice.

Review Process:

• Private  Interview:  Zoom session with Joana Alarcão (confidential, not published)
• Critical Analysis: professionally written review analysing your work within contemporary art discourse
• Publication: Review published on IOAEA platform and social media with artwork images and biographical context

Fee Structure:

• Standard review fee: €200
• Emerging artists: €150 (under 30 or <3 years professional practice)

What You Receive:

• Professional Critical Review (700-900 words): A thoughtful, written analysis of your work published permanently on the IOAEA digital platform;
• Comprehensive social media promotion with a dedicated carousel post featuring your work, quotes, and high-quality images across our Instagram (1800 followers)
• Video conversation for deeper work understanding.
• Become part of our global community of over 400 featured artists and curators, with an international viewership spanning the UK, US, Portugal, Australia, Ireland, and France, opening doors to future exhibitions and collaborative opportunities across the IOAEA network and other organisations.

Professional Development Value:

• Published critical writing you can use in grant applications, artist statements, and portfolio materials
• Increased online visibility and searchability for your work
• Third-party validation of your practice from an established arts organisation
• Archival documentation of your work at this stage of your career

For comprehensive details regarding our initiatives, examples of featured artists, and our publication style, we encourage you to visit our official website.

More about the curator and founder:

Joana Alarcão is a transdisciplinary eco-artist, art journalist, creative director, curator, and researcher based in Portugal. She is passionately dedicated to merging art with social and environmental justice.

Joana earned her Master's in Art and Ecology from the Burren College of Art in Ireland, alongside a Bachelor's degree in Sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts. Furthermore, she has completed several independent courses in transdisciplinary curatorial studies and journalism for social change.

With over 6 years of experience as an art writer and cultural journalist, Joana has contributed extensively to art magazines and NGOs, developing a distinctive voice in contemporary art criticism and eco-art discourse.

Her writing practice has involved interviewing and profiling more than 400 artists throughout her career, building a comprehensive understanding of diverse creative processes and contemporary art movements.

This extensive background in art journalism preceded and informed her founding of IOAEA (Insights of an Eco Artist) in 2021, where she continues to amplify artists' voices and perspectives.

Currently, also serving as a Collaborating Researcher at CIEBA, integrating her writing expertise with curatorial and artistic practice, advocating for art's transformative power in addressing cultural and ecological challenges.