At a glance
Teresa Margolles transforms the physical remnants of trauma—from concrete rubble to discarded clothing—into stark, forensic monuments that confront the systemic disappearance and violence along the border.
Meet the artist
Why go
This is the first large-scale US museum survey for the Mexican artist, bringing together three decades of provocative work alongside a major new commission created specifically for MoMA PS1.
You'll see
Architectural debris · Border-related installations · Forensic photography · Video works · New site-specific commission
Pace of visit
The exhibition requires significant time to process due to the intense emotional weight and social urgency of the subject matter.
Don't miss
The new site-specific commission, which uses physical debris to address contemporary social neglect within the museum's expansive gallery spaces.
Artlovers Tip
Visit the related installation at MoMA in Manhattan starting September 25, but prioritize the Queens presentation at MoMA PS1 for the full depth of the artist's survey.
Inside the exhibition
En el lugar de los hechos (At the Scene) presents a major overview of Teresa Margolles's career at MoMA PS1 in Queens, United States. The exhibition gathers three decades of the Mexican artist’s work, which focuses on the material evidence of violence, social exclusion, and the complexities of life and death in border regions.
Visitors encounter a range of media including heavy sculpture made from architectural ruins, stark photography, and video installations. The selection traces her evolution from early conceptual pieces to recent works that address the invisibility of marginalized bodies and the physical residue left behind by trauma and neglect.
Margolles’s approach is defined by a forensic restraint, using silence and minimalism to amplify the gravity of her subjects. By bringing these works together in New York, the show highlights the shared political and social tensions of the Americas through objects that carry the literal weight of their history.
Worth travelling for?
A somber, rewarding destination for visitors interested in the intersection of contemporary sculpture and social justice, offering a rare encounter with these visceral works.
Experience as an Artlover
Entry to the exhibition is included with general museum admission, though visitors should be aware that the content deals directly with graphic themes of violence and loss.
