Berenice Olmedo's Prosthetic Sculptures Explore Disability and Transhuman Futures

Berenice Olmedo, a sculptor from Mexico, reimagines orthoses and prostheses as essential components of the human form. Her piece Pnoê (2025), which draws inspiration from 1960s iron lungs, made its first appearance at the Bienal de São Paulo, delving into themes of biopolitics and the influence of technology on human identity. In her Mexico City studio, she works with various aids and materials to create organic sculptures. Last year, she showcased cyborg-like figures at the Bienal do Mercosul in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and kinetic artworks at the Boros Collection in Berlin. Notable works include Olga (2018) and Amalia (2021), which question notions of verticality and humanity. Recently, her solo exhibition at the Berkeley Art Museum displayed vibrant figures made from medical plastic. Additionally, Olmedo volunteers at a clinic for children with disabilities.