The Artists Roundtable, an international forum for leading practitioners, is hosted by Tamsin Dillon, faculty member of the MA Curatorial program.
Pedro Reyes (b. 1972) is a Mexican artist who has received international attention for large-scale, multidisciplinary projects that address current social and political issues with humor, ingenuity, and often with a participatory approach. Trained as an architect, he primarily identifies as a sculptor and frequently creates installations, performances, and public projects that invite collective action and reflection. His work often transforms objects and situations related to conflict into instruments for positive social change. For example, a socio-political critique of contemporary gun culture is addressed in Reyes’s ongoing Palas por Pistolas, in which the artist worked with local authorities in Culiacán, Mexico, to melt down guns into shovels, then used to plant trees in cities elsewhere in the world. Similarly, in Reyes’ major continuing Disarm series, firearms confiscated by the Mexican government and donated to Reyes have been transformed into instruments, which are then activated by local musicians.
His exhibitions include SITE Santa Fe, New Mexico (2023): Presented his exhibition Direct Action. Marta Herford Museum, Germany (2022): Presented a large body of his early work in his first European solo exhibition. Museum Tinguely, Basel (2020): Solo exhibition featuring Return to Sender, a series of music boxes made from gun parts.Creative Time, New York (2016): Presented Doomocracy, an immersive theatrical installation exploring politics and fear.Hammer Museum, Los Angeles (2015): Exhibited the second edition of pUN. Queens Museum, New York (2013): Hosted the first edition of pUN: The People's United Nations, an experimental conference where ordinary citizens act as delegates.
His work is featured in collections internationally including: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City, Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, Colección Jumex, Mexico City, Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Brooklyn Museum, New York.
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