NEW YORK, NY.- MARC STRAUS is presenting Pájaro de Fuego, Yael Medrez Pier's first solo exhibition with the gallery. The exhibition features a striking collection of seven new portraits of Mexico's indigenous communities, offering a powerful visual reflection on cultural identity, history, and personal narrative.
Pier's approach to portraiture is deeply immersive and thoughtful. Over the years, she has traveled throughout Mexico, visiting indigenous communities that balance life and customs between modernity and tradition. It is the local villages that serve as spaces of cultural preservation, and it is here that she connects with her subjects on a personal level. Pier conducts interviews with the women she portrays, which allows her to build a relationship based on understanding. This relationship, she says, allows her to paint not only their likenesses, but also the stories and experiences embedded in their lives and clothing.
In Pier’s paintings, each subject is presented with dignity, casting light on communities often overlooked or marginalized. Central to this exhibition, and to the artist's work, is the fact that there is no subject more compelling than the person in front of her, the individual, whose clothing becomes a rich narrative of identity, belonging, and heritage.
Textiles are particularly important in Pier's work. They are not simply decorative elements, but vital parts of her subjects' identities, representing generations of cultural traditions passed down through time. In some pieces, the figures are viewed from behind, where the fabric takes center stage, its patterns and textures almost glowing against the background. This approach draws attention to the materiality and symbolism of the textile, inviting the viewer to reflect on its history and the person wearing it.
One of the standout works in the exhibition is Rosa Maria, which depicts a woman weaving an intricate fabric. Pier's luminous rendering of the fabric adds depth and vibrancy, transforming the piece from a mere representation into a tribute to the craftsmanship and cultural heritage embedded in the art of textile making. Similarly, in Tach'in, the artist reflects on a pivotal experience during a family trip to southern Mexico. The work is a personal memory that evokes a timeless snapshot of Mexico's indigenous communities, their traditions, and their quiet resilience in the face of struggle.
Pier's work is a testament to the richness of Mexico's indigenous cultures, which remain a vital part of the nation's diversity and strength. With Pájaro de Fuego, Pier invites viewers to share her journey into the heart of communities whose traditions and stories are too often invisible.
Yael Medrez Pier (b. 1990) is a Mexican artist based in Mexico City. A graduate of the Painting, Drawing, and Sculpting programs at the Art Students League of New York and Parsons School of Design, her work has been shown at prominent galleries and museums across Mexico, including Museo Sumaya, Edificio Lotería Nacional de México, and Galería Edgar Mizrahi. Pier’s work has also been featured in international art fairs and public commissions in Mexico City. This is her first solo exhibition in the United States.
