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 “LaEsmeralda”, INBAL, Mexico City.
Solo shows (selection): The Secret Gospel Church of Phallic Worship Hammer Museum (Los Angeles,USA, 2025); TeópolisPequod Co. (Mexico City, 2022); Glory DaysArter-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 The DeanCollection, Hammer Museum Collection, Yuyito Collection, Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil Collection, Omnilife Collection, among others.
Don’t Stop Believin’
05/23/26 - 08/15/26
Pequod Curated by José Noé Suro
27.06.2024 - 17.08.2024
TEOPOLIS
08.27.2022 - 10.22.2022
Renata Petersen
Battle on a Very Busy Street
High temperature glazed ceramic
31 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 18 1/2 in.
2026
Renata Petersen
¡Sube, Pelayo, sube! o el Sísifo mexicano
Blown glass
17.72 × 47.24 × 47.24 in
2025
Renata Petersen
All Flesh Rots
High temperature ceramic and steel frame
80.31 x 40.16 x 1.57 in
2025
Renata Petersen
Brain Washed Grossness
High temperature ceramic and steel frame
80.31 x 40.16 x 1.57 in
2025
Renata Petersen
Crusade
High temperature ceramic and steel frame
80.31 x 40.16 x 1.57 in
2025
Renata Petersen
Dooms Day
High temperature ceramic and steel frame
80.31 x 40.16 x 1.57 in
2025
Renata Petersen presents “The Secret Gospel Church of Phallic Worship” at the Monterrey Museum of Contemporary Art
Renata Petersen's work is now part of the Carrillo Gil Art Museum collection, the Hammer Museum, and The Dean Collection.
Renata Petersen is now part of the Carrillo Gil Museum of Art's collection
Renata Petersen Artist in Residency at Pioneer Works, New York, USA
Renata Petersen presents “The Secret Gospel Church of Phallic Worship” at the Monterrey Museum of Contemporary Art
Renata Petersen's work is now part of the Carrillo Gil Art Museum collection, the Hammer Museum, and The Dean Collection.
Renata Petersen is now part of the Carrillo Gil Museum of Art's collection
Renata Petersen Artist in Residency at Pioneer Works, New York, USA
Renata Petersen in “Art Basel Miami 2025: Latin American artists take center stage” a interview by Veronica Esposito in The Guardian
Renata Petersen joins the collection of the Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil
Renata Petersen: Hammer Projects: "The Secret Gospel Church of Phallic Worship", curated by Aram Moshayedi, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles
Renata Petersen in "atrás del ártico se esconde un paraíso", curated by Maya Renée Escárcega, Museo de arte de Zapopan (MAZ)
Renata Petersen en "MASA & LUHRING AUGUSTINE VOL. 2", Mexico City
Renata Petersen in the second edition of "OTR^S MUND^S", curated by Aram Moshayedi, Museo Tamayo, Mexico City
