Born in the U.S. and raised in Canada in a Spanish-speaking home with roots in Barcelona, Nuria Madrenas (BA ’16) is deeply inspired by culture, creativity, and community. It took just over two years for this arts enthusiast to fuse her passion and entrepreneurial desire to create positive change and bring Tacit – an online gallery and art consultancy dedicated exclusively to female artists – to life.
With a diverse background and the opportunity to experience life in different cities, Nuria chose to get her major in Psychology at York where she found a progressive environment, learning from esteemed professors and fellow students with similar worldly experiences.
“York played a pivotal role in shaping my career by allowing me to cultivate a strong network of professionals and career-driven individuals," says Nuria. "It also opened my mind into new ways of thinking. Being able to meet so many people with different life experiences was both inspiring and educational.”
Upon graduation, Nuria was hired as an account coordinator at a fashion PR agency in Toronto, where she worked for over a year before moving to the U.K. to pursue other opportunities. She later returned to Toronto to take on a role as marketing manager and consultant in the hospitality industry, which involved extensive business travel across Canada and New York. It was this role that planted the entrepreneurial seed that started Tacit.
Born out of the gender disparity in the art world where work created by women accounts for just two per cent of the art sold, Tacit is an online curated collection of works available to collectors. Nuria's vision propelled Tacit to become a catalyst for change. Under her guidance Tacit has not only provided a platform for female artists to showcase their talent but has also garnered attention from renowned publishing platforms such as Vogue Living, the London Free Press, The Globe and Mail and Forbes. These features have further amplified the reach and impact of Tacit, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the industry. Tacit has also worked with a variety of residential and commercial clients to curate art for their spaces, including condominium buildings, hotels, restaurants, office buildings and beyond.
“The most fulfilling thing about my job is being able to support women artists worldwide on their journey to monetizing their practice," she says. "The most challenging is maintaining momentum year after year and constantly staying 10 steps ahead."
In addition to her busy days, Nuria just started taking ukulele classes, spends time with her dog, family and friends, and enjoys savouring her fiancé's home cooked Korean meals. Her advice to current York students: “Work hard, don't be afraid to explore different paths than what you may think you have to adhere to, and have fun!”
Learn more about Tacit and Nuria Madrenas at tacitcollective.com and on Instagram @tacitcollective.