At Bev/Art, we are proud to work with individuals who not only bring deep expertise but also reshape the way we think about heritage, conservation and innovation. One of those individuals is Boris Pretzel, our Heritage Science Advisor. With decades of experience – including his tenure as Head of Science at the Victoria and Albert Museum – Boris brings a remarkable blend of scientific rigor, curiosity, and creativity to every conversation.
Boris’s path into the field of heritage science wasn’t a typical one. While many in conservation science come from a background in chemistry, Boris trained in materials science and physics, disciplines that offered him a distinctive lens on how objects age, react, and survive in the world. Over the course of his career, he’s approached conservation with the mindset of a researcher, constantly seeking to understand how the smallest decisions – the type of light used in a gallery, the material of a mount, the climate of a storage space – ripple into the long-term fate of irreplaceable objects.
During his time at the V&A, Boris led scientific investigations that blended precision with public experience. One example he returns to often is the Ardabil Carpet, considered the world’s oldest dated carpet. To protect its vivid natural dyes from fading, Boris devised a lighting strategy that allowed the carpet to be illuminated for just ten minutes every half hour. Visitors would gather in anticipation, watching as the gallery transformed in those brief intervals. It was a poetic balance of preservation and visibility – one that made the science itself feel like part of the exhibition.
Throughout his career, Boris has navigated the complex intersection of science, user experience, and budget – ensuring that preservation technologies not only perform but remain viable within the realities of institutional constraints. This, he notes, is another area where Bev/Art stands out. The company’s commitment to delivering powerful, discreet sensor technology at a cost that is accessible to cultural institutions makes the product something he can confidently stand behind – not just as a scientist, but as an advocate for the field.
When asked to name a favorite project or object, Boris paused. “How can I select just one thing?” he says, before listing a stream of moments that have stayed with him: the photographs of Lady Hawarden; Nelson’s coat from the Battle of Trafalgar, displayed at the Royal Museums Greenwich; early 20th-century plastic sculptures by Naum Gabo; and intricate Japanese prints by Katsushika Hokusai. Each object, he explains, presents a different puzzle – material, environmental, emotional. And beyond the museum walls, he recalls historic sites both world-famous and quietly tucked away, each one expanding his understanding of cultural memory and material resilience.
Boris’s influence extends far beyond institutional collections. A recognized leader in the advancement of conservation monitoring, he helped develop new systems for environmental sensing, working closely with partners and research institutions to test tools in real-world settings. He also helped develop software for the first radio telemetry environmental monitoring system for museums around the world. The scale and complexity of the V&A provided the ideal proving ground, where theory met practice under the scrutiny of public and professional eyes.
His expertise has earned him international recognition, including an appointment as Professor of Conservation Science at Tokyo University of the Arts. He continues to be an in-demand speaker and advisor, sought after not only for his knowledge, but for the generosity with which he shares it.
When he speaks about his decision to join Bev/Art, Boris doesn’t talk about prestige or pedigree – though the company has both – he talks about people. “It’s the people,” he says simply, describing a team committed to building technologies specifically for the needs of museums, archives, and heritage institutions. That level of focus, of care for the end user, resonated deeply with his own values.
In every way, Boris is helping Bev/Art think more boldly and more carefully – about what we build, who we build it for, and why it matters. We’re proud to work alongside him as we continue to support the preservation of culture, memory, and meaning.
