The Consulate General of Mexico in New York, through the Mexican Cultural Institute, proudly presents An Act of Poetry: Homage to Luis Barragán, a photographic exhibition by acclaimed Mexican artist Martirene Alcántara.
Hosted at the Octavio Paz Gallery within the Consulate, the exhibition is open to the public through the end of June. For over 25 years, Martirene Alcántara has been capturing the timeless architecture of Luis Barragán. Within his iconic spaces, she composes ethereal photographs that reflect the enduring presence of architecture intertwined with the fleeting beauty of light. In An Act of Poetry, Alcántara distills each image to its purest form—removing distractions to reveal the architectural essence. As The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism pays tribute to Barragán’s bold and visionary modernism, this exhibition invites viewers to see his work anew through abstract, poetic interpretations that celebrate both structure and spirit.
Location: Consulate General of Mexico in New York
Address: 27 E 39th St, New York, NY 10016
Hours: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Until June 2025
About martirene:
Martirene Alcántara is a Mexican-American visual artist. The daughter of two fine art painters, she was raised in an environment steeped in visual arts and embraced photography as her medium of expression. Her work is often described as a convergence between photography and painting, with a strong emphasis on line, rhythm, and emotional intimacy.
Alcántara began her professional career in 1992 and has since established herself as an accomplished artist and art director. She develops her own artistic projects and also works on assignment, traveling and creating across multiple countries and continents. Her photography does not simply depict objects; instead, it captures the emotional and visual essence they evoke—transforming that experience into the final image.
With formal studies in architecture, art, and photography, she has specialized in architectural photography, a field that has deeply influenced her artistic vision. Her work is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), underscoring her relevance and impact in the art world.
An Act of Poetry, her current exhibition, was first inaugurated at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) as part of The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism, which celebrates the legacy of Luis Barragán. The exhibition is now on view at the Octavio Paz Gallery within the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, where it will remain open to the public through the end of June 2025.