Vestiges of Our Time, the much-anticipated solo exhibition of Alfredo Romero, whose work redefines the act of preservation. In a world where cities are in perpetual flux, Romero acts as both archivist and alchemist, salvaging and transforming remnants of urban life into poetic artifacts of cultural memory. His work, already housed in leading museums and galleries across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America, serves as both testimony and tribute to the vanishing narratives of Mexico’s metropolitan landscapes. The most internationally renowned and significant museum on this list is the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo (MUAC) in Mexico City. It is one of the leading contemporary art museums in Latin America and is well-known for its prominent role in exhibiting contemporary art on a global scale.

Romero’s practice bridges architecture and archaeology, capturing fragments of urban life before they disappear. Utilizing contemporary archaeological practices, he employs a meticulous "Arqueología Strappo" technique, traditionally used by archaeologists, to delicately detach vernacular murals created by anonymous local artists and workers. This method allows him to preserve visual elements of everyday life that are increasingly threatened by rapid urbanization, rural exodus, and technological change. By lifting layers of paint and plaster, Romero not only safeguards these ephemeral expressions but also recontextualizes them, offering a new perspective on urban histories that might otherwise be lost. "My goal is not just to recover these forgotten signs and dilapidated walls," says Romero. "It’s about giving them new life, making them timeless."

When cities are continuously reshaped by displacement and redevelopment, Romero’s work is both an act of preservation and resistance. His paintings are not nostalgic relics, but urgent meditations on what is remembered, what is forgotten, and who controls those narratives. By meticulously reconstructing the walls of forgotten neighborhoods,—where commercial signage fades into oblivion, and political slogans are replaced by new ideologies. Vestiges of Our Time presents new and recent works that reflect Romero’s signature fusion of research, painterly abstraction, and architectural observation – taking on a new urgency in a time where the conversation around territorial conflict, cultural displacement and identity is more pressing than ever. His practice highlights the tension between preservation and displacement, between belonging and exclusion. By extracting and recontextualizing these remnants, he invites us to reconsider societal boundaries and acknowledge the interconnectedness of global histories and cultures.