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Wilay Méndez Páez

Artist Talk & Reception

Sculptor, Visual Artist, and Poet Wilay Méndez Páez to Present Guest Artist Talk at UW–La Crosse

The University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Department of Global Cultures & Languages and Art Department will welcome internationally recognized sculptor, visual artist, and poet Wilay Méndez Páez for a guest artist talk and exhibition on Tuesday, March 31 at 5 p.m. in Room 116 of the Lowe Center for the Arts. A reception will immediately follow. The event is free and open to the public.

Méndez Páez’s multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, installation, drawing, and poetry. Born in Cuba and now based in the United States, his work frequently explores themes of migration, displacement, labor, memory, and the politics of place. Drawing on personal and collective histories, he transforms everyday materials—often industrial or utilitarian in origin—into evocative forms that invite reflection on identity, borders, and belonging.

Through a conceptual approach rooted in both material process and poetic inquiry, Méndez Páez examines systems of power and the lived experiences of marginalized communities. His sculptural installations often juxtapose fragility and endurance, revealing the tension between vulnerability and resilience. Language also plays a central role in his work, as text and poetry intersect with physical form to deepen narrative meaning.

His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries, museums, and public spaces, contributing to ongoing conversations about diaspora, cultural memory, and social transformation. Páez’s work will be on display in a pop-up exhibition in Dialogue Space outside the UWL Art Gallery in the Lowe Center for the Arts March 31 through April 20.

During the March 31 artist talk, Méndez Páez will discuss the evolution of his practice, the conceptual frameworks that shape his work, and the role of art as a vehicle for dialogue and critical engagement. The event offers students, faculty, and community members an opportunity to engage directly with a contemporary artist whose work bridges visual art and literary expression.

The exhibition and reception following the talk will provide attendees an opportunity to experience his work firsthand and to meet the artist.

Related campus initiatives

Greater La Crosse community

When

  • 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 31

Where

116 Lowe Center for the Arts

UWL campus map for building location and nearby parking lots.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Lowe Center for the Arts

If you go

  • Free, no registration needed

Contact

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations , contact Pete Rydberg at 608.785.8446 or prydberg@uwlax.edu.

Parking

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