Renata Petersen's practice explores religious and social themes, infused with a sharp sense of dark humor. Through vignettes that closely engage with comics and caricature, her work moves between satirical reinterpretations and explorations of phenomena with deep resonance in popular culture. She addresses topics such as cults, urban legends, gender roles, contemporary sexuality, and the subjectivity inherent in the concept of "bad taste."
Her production incorporates direct references to figures such as Mike Kelley, Sarah Lucas, Raymond Pettibon, and Kim Gordon, interwoven with her own fascination with pornography, scatology, and hypermediated trash television. This intertextuality is materialized through artisanal processes deeply rooted in Guadalajara, such as ceramics and blown glass, generating a dialogue between tradition and transgression.
Lives and works in Guadalajara.
She holds a degree in visual arts from the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado “La Esmeralda”, INBAL, Mexico City.
Solo shows (selection): The Secret Gospel Church of Phallic Worship Hammer Museum (Los Angeles, USA, 2025); Teópolis Pequod Co. (Mexico City, 2022); Glory Days Arter-ea (Guadalajara, Mexico, 2017); Topografía de una conversación MUSA (Guadalajara, Mexico, 2016).
Group shows (selection): atrás del ártico se esconde un paraíso Museo de Arte de Zapopan (Mexico, 2025); OTR^S MUND^S Museo Tamayo (Mexico City, 2024); Coincidencias/Divergencias Plataforma (Guadalajara, Mexico); Cerámica Suro: A Story of Collaboration, Production, and Collecting in the Contemporary Arts (traveling exhibition) Casa de México en España (Madrid, Spain) Dallas Contemporary (USA, 2023), Museo de Arte de Zapopan (Mexico, 2022); Sex, Death, and Robots Cuadro 22 (Chur, Switzerland, 2022); La casa que nos inventamos: Contemporary Art from Guadalajara Oklahoma Contemporary (USA); Instantánea Kodak Factory (Guadalajara, Mexico, 2020); Mamá Barragán Taller Los Guayabos (Guadalajara, Mexico, 2019).
In recent years, her work has been included in public and private collections, including Yuyito Collection, Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil Collection, Omnilife Collection, among others.
