In conjunction with his new book, Art and Architecture in Mexico, author James Oles provides insight into the process behind writing the first comprehensive survey of Mexican art in almost a half century. His talk explores how surveys were previously crafted by art historians and museum curators, as well as the benefits and pitfalls of taking a long, rather than tightly focused, view of Mexican art history.

Instead of emphasizing continuity over time, the book highlights cross-generational connections, and much of the talk focuses on the historical context — direct and indirect — that informs the work of Mexico's vibrant contemporary artists, including Francis Alÿs, Teresa Margolles and Melanie Smith, whose work is represented in the MFAH collections.