Pedro Reyes

This fall, Lisson Gallery is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new work by acclaimed artist Pedro Reyes, marking a significant evolution in his sculptural practice. Bringing together monumental stone works and, for the first time, a suite of wall-based mosaics, the exhibition transforms the gallery into a sculptural forest—a landscape of myth, material, and movement.

Rooted in Mesoamerican cosmology, Reyes’ formal syntax draws deeply from his own heritage. His forms echo the traditions of Mexica and Olmec carving, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens that also recalls the synthesis of Art Deco and modern abstraction. By weaving together these distinct visual territories, Reyes explores how sculpture can serve as a vessel of memory, a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary, and a medium for cultural resilience and renewal.

Alongside his distinctively abstract, totemic sculptural forms, a new series of evocative animal figures—jaguar, coyote, monkey, and axolotl—emerge, each rendered with a restrained precision that bridges ancient symbolism and a contemporary visual language. This synthesis is particularly evident in Coyotl (2025), where the sharp, geometric lines along the figure’s neck and tail reflect both formal clarity and cultural resonance. The work pays homage to Coyoacán—meaning “the place of the coyotes” in Nahuatl—the Mexico City neighborhood where Reyes his home and studio. As the artist notes, “Often described as a creature between a dog and a wolf, the coyote plays the role of a trickster spirit in pre-Columbian mythology. It also serves as a symbol of earthly wisdom because of its astute nature.”