Andrea Peña: States of Transmutation

Mattress Factory presents States of Transmutation, a new exhibition by artist-in-residence Andrea Peña, selected through the museum’s innovative International Open Call program.

Peña, a hybrid Latinx artist born in Bogotá, Colombia and residing in the territory of Tiohtiá:ke, Montreal, is known for her dynamic blend of choreography and industrial design. Her work explores the interplay between the human body and the constructed environment. At the heart of Peña’s new exhibition is a deep investigation into the world of hybridity, challenging and redefining our understanding of movement, material, and design.

Upon entering States of Transmutation, visitors will be greeted with curtains reminiscent of both butcher shops and laboratories, offering a surreal gateway into Peña’s universe. The exhibit space reveals a cacophony of mutations - from the stark imagery of a steel table bent by a crane to the more delicate harmony of a self-rocking chair, every piece invokes profound contemplation on body, gender, and our human experience.

A central point of Peña’s installation is an enigmatic “choreographic machine.” Engineered with two slowly moving mechanical arms, this piece is not designed for perfection or flawless replication. Instead, it explores the concept of “glitch” as an intentional error, questioning our perceptions of the body through its imperfections. Throughout the year long exhibition, visitors will witness a massive silicon piece manipulated by the machine, offering an abstract stand in for the human form and sparking dialogue between the human body and this mechanical presence. Occasionally the machine will be activated by live performers, becoming an interactive spectacle, moving bodies in real-time and highlighting the tension between human agency and technological constraints. The choreographic machine invites viewers to consider the delicate dance between human and technology, emphasizing Peña’s exploration of rhythm, temporality, and the harmonious symphonies that emerge from their convergence.

Audio is integral to Peña’s installation. In collaboration with composer Debbie Doe, visitors will experience sounds that sit at the intersection of body and machine—visceral, fleshy reverberations that echo through the space.

Peña was selected for residency and exhibition through the museum’s International Open Call program. In late 2021, over 1,200 artists from around the world applied for the opportunity to develop a new artwork for exhibition while in residence at the Mattress Factory. A panel consisting of accomplished Mattress Factory artist-alumni—vanessa german, Sohrab Kashani, Christopher Meerdo, and Sarah Oppenheimer—selected five artists for exhibition in 2023 and 2024. The first of which, Asim Waqif (India) debuted this year. The three selected artists exhibiting in 2024 are Akwasi Afrane (Ghana), Azza El Siddique (born in Sudan, lives in New Haven, CT), and Eugene Macki (United Kingdom).

About Mattress Factory: Founded in 1977, Mattress Factory is a contemporary art museum that showcases site-specific art created by artists in residence from around the world. Located in Pittsburgh’s historic Northside, just minutes from Downtown Pittsburgh, the museum’s public campus includes two historic homes and a converted mattress warehouse. In addition to temporary exhibitions created by artists-in-residence, Mattress Factory also is home to long term works by Greer Lankton, James Turrell, Winifred Lutz, Yayoi Kusama and more.

About the artist: A hybrid Latinx artist, Andrea Peña was originally born in Bogota, Colombia and has carved her practice in the territory of Tiohti:áke, Montreal. As director of the multidisciplinary company AP&A (Andréa Peña & Artists), her practice as designer and choreographer, merges the body and materiality in performative, digital and sculptural works.

For more information visit mattress.org or contact Director of Development, Mary Peltz, mpeltz [​at​] mattress.orgs