Fernando Palma Rodriguez

Fernando Palma Rodríguez (San Pedro Atocpan, Mexico, 1957) lives and works in the agricultural region of Milpa Alta outside Mexico City, where he runs Calpulli Tecalco AC, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Nahuatl language and agriculture. He was the subject of a retrospective at Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Oaxaca (2017). His work has been exhibited at MoMA PS1, New York (2018), FRAC des Pays de la Loire, France (2016); Parallel Oaxaca, Mexico (2016); Nottingham Contemporary, England (2015); the Biennial of the Americas, Denver, Colorado (2015); Museo Universitario del Chopo, Mexico City, Mexico (2014); and SITE Santa Fe, New Mexico (2014).

Ballroom Marfa and Agave Festival Marfa present Tlacuilcopa – a workshop and exploration of Nahuatl (one of the most widely-spoken indigenous languages of the Americas) and logo-syllabic writing with artist Fernando Palma Rodríguez at Ballroom Marfa. No previous knowledge of the language is necessary. Participants will learn about the structure and application of Nahuatl and then create their own neo-pictograms based on this ancient system of writing. Together with his family, the artist operates several NGOs in Mexico that focus on teaching and preserving this threatened language. Rodríguez’s sculptures are currently on view in Ballroom’s galleries.