New York-based artist Guadalupe Maravilla recently traveled to Venice to finalize the installation of his work for the prestigious 2026 Venice Biennale. This event marks a significant milestone in his artistic journey. However, his experience took an unexpected turn last Thursday evening after he departed from the Arsenale, one of the Biennale's key venues, when he was approached by two police officers.
Maravilla recounted, "After completing my installation at the Venice Biennale, I was subjected to racial profiling by police in the streets of Venice, who attempted to detain me." He explained that the officers demanded his identification and subsequently escalated the situation, even attempting to handcuff him. Fortunately, he was able to de-escalate the confrontation and leave the scene.
Maravilla is renowned for his "Disease Thrower" series, which features intricate sculptures designed to promote healing from both physical and societal ailments. These pieces often include gongs and singing bowls, which he activates during sound baths. His work has been exhibited in prominent venues, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego. The inspiration behind these sculptures stems from his personal experiences of migration from El Salvador to the U.S. and his journey through a cancer diagnosis.
In Venice, Maravilla is set to unveil new iterations of these sculptures, emphasizing the ongoing injustices faced by Latino communities in the U.S., particularly regarding systemic racial profiling and the detention of migrants. He stated, "My sculptures serve as instruments of healing, honoring children who have endured detention and displacement, along with the lasting trauma that follows."
Reflecting on his recent experience, he noted, "Encountering such scrutiny on the other side of the world, right after installing my work, highlights that patterns of surveillance and racialized control are not limited to one nation, but are part of a global issue." Maravilla's past as an undocumented child fleeing civil war has deeply influenced his artistic practice, which seeks to address the realities faced by many immigrants today.
In addition to his participation in the Biennale, Maravilla's work is featured in several major exhibitions, including "Several Eternities in a Day: Form in the Age of Living Materials" at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and "Let Us Gather in a Flourishing Way" at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum. His upcoming exhibition at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Wisconsin will pair his work with that of the late sculptor Emery Blagdon.
Over the past eight years, Maravilla has also engaged in community initiatives focused on mutual aid, food justice, and supporting immigrants and refugees in New York City. Despite the challenges he faced in Venice, he remains dedicated to his art and to advocating for vulnerable communities. He expressed, "The injustices are not diminishing; they are expanding across borders. Those of us at the intersection of art, healing, and social practice are called to respond with greater depth and commitment."
