Mexican curator and art historian Cuauhtémoc Medina has been selected to lead the 2027 edition of the Bienal de Arte Paiz in Guatemala, one of the region's longstanding contemporary art platforms.
The biennial, organized by the Fundación Paiz para la Educación y la Cultura, will unfold in Guatemala City and Antigua, marking its 25th edition when it opens in 2027. Founded in 1978, the event has grown into a key meeting point for artists, curators, and audiences interested in current artistic thinking.
Medina described the biennial as a space that has long connected Guatemalan audiences with contemporary ideas and sensibilities. He said the appointment is both an honor and a challenge, and expressed hope that the exhibition will become a memorable collaboration between the curatorial team and participating artists.
His background includes roles at Tate Modern in London, where he became the first associate curator of Latin American art, and at MUAC, the museum of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he served as chief curator. Over the years, he has worked with artists and collectives including Harun Farocki, Ai Weiwei, Beatriz González, Raqs Media Collective, and Kader Attia.
Fundación Paiz executive director Sonia Hutarte said the 2027 edition aims to explore what a biennial can mean today and how Guatemala can contribute to broader conversations in contemporary art. With Medina at the helm, the exhibition is expected to emphasize dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and lasting cultural impact. The project points toward a future where biennials continue to shape global artistic exchange.
