Leading Mexican curator Cuauhtémoc Medina tapped to organise next edition of Guatemala’s Bienal de Arte Paiz
Medina will curate the 25th iteration of one of Latin America’s second-oldest biennial, opening in November 2027
The renowned Mexican art curator Cuauhtémoc Medina has been selected to lead the upcoming 25th edition of Guatemala's prestigious Bienal de Arte Paiz, scheduled to take place from November 2027 to February 2028 in Antigua and Guatemala City. This marks the 50th anniversary of Fundación Paiz, the non-profit organization behind the biennial, which has been instrumental in shaping and promoting the local art scene since its founding in 1978.
Medina, a full-time researcher at Mexico's Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas since 1993, has extensive experience in the art world, having previously served as Tate Modern's first associate curator of Latin American art collections from 2002 to 2008 and as the chief curator at Mexico City's Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo from 2013 to 2024.
Known for his scholarly rigor, Medina has authored and edited over 20 books on contemporary art and has curated major exhibitions worldwide, including Manifesta 9 in Belgium and the 12th Shanghai Biennale. "The Paiz Biennial is an event that those of us in Latin American art circuits follow closely," Medina tells The Art Newspaper.
"Its medium scale and the commitment of the Fundación and its staff have made it conducive to testing advanced ideas." The upcoming edition will see the biennial expand its local presence with the opening of the Centro Cultural Fundación Paiz in Guatemala City, offering a vital exhibition space featuring works from the foundation's collection of over 300 pieces alongside temporary projects.
Fundación Paiz's executive director, Sonia Hurtarte, emphasizes that the 25th edition aims to challenge the biennial's role and impact by questioning what a biennial can and should do in the contemporary art world, particularly in the context of Guatemala and Central America. Medina acknowledges the challenge of highlighting Guatemala's importance on a global scale while expanding the event's audience and intellectual impact.
He sees the biennial as an opportunity to transform a question or critique into a significant moment in time, fostering exchange, resistance, and resilience through the performance art and other works featured in the exhibition.
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