Lisson Artists Wael Shawky and Pedro Reyes Featured in the Inaugural Bienal de Yucatán

Opening on 26 November 2026, the inaugural Bienal de Yucatán will feature Lisson artists Wael Shawky and Pedro Reyes. Titled VOCAL, the biennial is led by artistic director Abraham Cruzvillegas and will take place across 16 venues in Mérida and Maní, Mexico, until 28 February 2027.

Bringing together 76 artists, VOCAL explores language in its many forms, from the spoken and written word to the complexities of translation, interpretation and misunderstanding. The exhibition seeks to create a space for dialogue across different languages and cultural contexts, while foregrounding the distinctive artistic community of the Yucatán peninsula.

The biennial is supported by art patron, collector and curator Catherine Petitgas. A longstanding friend of Lisson Gallery, Petitgas is also the founder of Proyecto Y, an initiative dedicated to developing the careers of emerging artists in the region. As Petitgas explains, ‘I am drawn to the international biennial model as both a platform for reflection and exchange and a catalyst for local cultural development.’

Through its inaugural edition, the Bienal de Yucatán aims to expand opportunities for artistic exchange and bring greater international visibility to the region’s contemporary art scene.

Shown here: Wael Shawky, Cabaret Crusades I: The Horror Show File, 2010. © The Artist, Courtesy Lisson.