What Maya-Kaqchikel artist had a gallery filled with soil and ceramic vessels at the Hammer Museum's 'Several Eternities in a Day' exhibition in April 2026?

Edgar Calel, a Maya-Kaqchikel artist from Guatemala, is the artist whose work was featured with soil and ceramic vessels at the Hammer Museum's 'Several Eternities in a Day' exhibition, which opened in April 2026. Calel is renowned for his multimedia contemporary art that delves into Indigenous experiences, particularly engaging with the Maya-Kaqchikel cosmic worldview, traditions, and rituals. His installations often bridge ancient knowledge with contemporary artistic expression, offering new perspectives to international audiences.

Calel's artistic practice is deeply rooted in his heritage, often incorporating elements like earth, stones, and ceramics to create works that reflect on ancestral culture and the spiritual significance of materials. He views art not as an expression of individuality in the Western sense, but as "Naoj," a concept encompassing knowledge, wisdom, and understanding that is shared and passed down through generations. This approach challenges conventional museum practices by emphasizing the living, evolving nature of his materials and the deep spiritual connections they embody.

The "Several Eternities in a Day" exhibition itself focuses on the intertwined relationship between living materials and contemporary art, featuring twenty-two Indigenous and Brown artists from across the Americas. Calel's contribution, with its use of soil and ceramic vessels, exemplifies the exhibition's theme of materials that "breathe, shift, and remember," embodying both history and future in a fleeting moment. His work invites viewers to engage with art that is not fixed but permeable, in a constant state of flux, much like the traditions and spirituality it represents.