Mercedes Gertz:
Reading the Invisible

Starting March 29, 2026

Guest Curator: Alma Ruiz-Furlan

Mercedes Gertz was born in Mexico City and moved to California in 1999. From an early age, her passion for painting and fairy tales inspired her to explore dreams, a pursuit that deepened after earning a Ph.D. in Depth Psychology.

Mercedes Gertz: Reading the Invisible spans two decades of work in which these subjects are deeply analyzed and dissected, often with humor, as she confronts issues of patriarchy, power, culture, traditions, and religion, inspiring visitors to feel connected and motivated to reflect on these important social themes.

Divided into 13 sections, the exhibition traces the artist's interests and concerns spanning 1987 to 2025. For the first time, the public will see her early work alongside her later work, such as Los diálogos entre la caperucita y el lobo, where visitors are encouraged to participate actively, making their involvement essential to the work's meaning and completion.

Projects like Nymphas Dissolutio, mandalas and clothes inspired by bridal dresses belonging to divorced women, transition to Suéteres de la jerarquía, where the artist and her friends wear sweaters representing the power of law, religion, and class along with one with feminine attributes walking public spaces in Mexico City, Los Angeles, and Lausanne, Switzerland, affirming her work's collaborative and performative nature.

During the COVID pandemic, feelings of anxiety and introspection led to a Sunday knitting circle. Her renewed interest in knitting and crocheting inspired works in El cuerpo emocional, expanding her artistic vocabulary, which already incorporated video, bookmaking, and music, showcasing her interdisciplinary approach to art.

For many years, Mercedes has collaborated with artisans, artists, and technology experts. She has also conducted free workshops combining yoga, dream exercises, knitting, and psychology for children and adults. Her commitment to community collaboration and relational art has deepened over time, making it an essential part of her practice.

Biography

Mercedes Gertz (México, 1965)

Mercedes Gertz, born in Mexico City, works from her studios in Mexico City and Los Angeles. She holds a B.F.A. from Parsons School of Design, an M.F.A. from Otis College of Art and Design, and a PhD in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. A FONCA grant recipient, she has long developed a community-based practice, teaching art-as-a-language workshops to Latino families in Los Angeles. She has also offered workshops in Mexico, Los Angeles, Tijuana, Paris, and Tokyo on dreams and fairy tales as symbolic systems. Her work has been exhibited widely in Mexico, the United States, Europe, and Asia.