Sor Juana 2026: A Conversation with Ana Teresa Fernández & Guadalupe García

Artist Ana Teresa Fernández and curator Guadalupe García discuss Under Pressure, and art’s role in responding to climate urgency.

Join artist Ana Teresa Fernández and curator Guadalupe García for an intimate conversation on the making of Under Pressure and the collaborative process behind bringing the exhibition to life. Together, they will reflect on the dialogue between artist and curator, the evolution of ideas from performance to installation, and the shared vision that shaped the project. In conjunction with the exhibition, Fernández debuts S.O.S., a large-scale performance realized with hundreds of mirrors reflecting sunlight in Morse code, a universal language of urgency. Activated on the Ohio Street Beach in April during EXPO Chicago.

Grounded in questions of climate, responsibility, and transformation, this conversation will also explore the broader role of art in our world today and how creative practice can respond to urgent realities, build community, and imagine new possibilities for collective change.

About the Sor Juana Festival:
The National Museum of Mexican Art presents the 32nd annual Sor Juana Festival, honoring one of Mexico’s greatest writers, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. A 17th-century Mexican nun who valued and fought for a woman’s right to education, Sor Juana was a celebrated playwright, mathematician, and poet in her own time and continues to inspire women to this day. Through this unique festival, we celebrate the legacy of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and pay tribute to the rich artistic accomplishments of women from across the globe.

Continuing Sor Juana’s enduring legacy, the 2026 Sor Juana Festival reflects on the power of knowledge as both liberation and protest. This year's theme, “Knowledge as Resistance”, honors women who continue the fight for access, equality, and justice; highlighting first-voice activists, educators, community leaders, and artists who use their platforms to lead the way at a time when women’s rights face growing challenges across borders. Through their words, art, and action.

Since its founding in 1994, the Sor Juana Festival has remained unique in its scope and focus. The festival has presented high-profile artists such as: Angélica Aragón, Vikki Carr, Lynda Carter, Ana Castillo, Sandra Cisneros, Elena Poniatowska, Ely Guerra, and Julieta Venegas.

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Seating is limited, and registration does not guarantee entry. Seats will be held for those with a reservation until 15 minutes before the event starts. After that time, remaining seats will be released to the waitlist or available attendees.