Meet the Mexican architect Carlos H. Matos, whose works blend architecture and sculpture.
Growing up in Mexico City, Carlos H. Matos regularly visited archaeological sites, a habit that shaped a family of architects, spanning both his grandfathers and his own father. The family legacy made it easy for Matos to follow the path of architecture: “It felt very natural for me to continue in that direction,” he says. “I enjoy working with architecture but in a more sculptural manner.”
”I like to weave in and out of the realm of architecture into sculpture and material experimentation,” Carlos H. Matos explains: “Mexico is a place that enables experimentation.” He is influenced by both Mexico City and the broader cultural heritage of Mexico. “Drawing back inspiration from history is something kind of vital and necessary,” he says. “You have to understand your context.”
Carlos H. Matos points out how historically sculpture was carved into the actual architecture, thus underlining the link between the two: “I think architecture and sculpture have always been fused,” he continues, “Architecture is sculptural by definition.” Although he has a deep love for architecture, the time-consuming aspect of it made him turn more to art and sculpture. “I’ve been able to work more blindly as an artist.” For him, art allows him to be more ambiguous in his pieces: “I think of a lot of my works as a puzzle that needs to be resolved.”
Carlos H. Matos (b. 1983, Mexico City), lives and works in Mexico City. Employing tools and methods from both architecture and sculpture, Matos deliberately places himself at an ambiguous point between the two disciplines. Matos graduated from London’s Architectural Association and subsequently founded and directed the AA satellite school Beton Machine from 2014 to 2017. Matos, together with Lucas Cantú, formed TEZONTLE in 2016, a collaborative project that produces research-led work drawing on a diverse array of aesthetic and historical references. Matos is currently presenting his first solo show at PEANA, CDMX, MX, and has participated in projects such as Yendo de la cama al living, Salon Acme, CDMX, MX, Art of Noise, SF MoMA, SF, US. Casa Ideal, Proyectos Multipropósito; CDMX, MX. In 2023, Carlos completed Casa Monte, an experimental shelter and seclusion project on the coast of Oaxaca, Oax., MX. His works as part of TEZONTLE have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in places such as Friedman Benda in NY, US; Museo MARCO in MTY, MX; LIGA in CDMX, MX; Museo Tamayo in CDMX, MX; Kasmin Gallery, NY, US; and Richard Neutra’s VDL House in LA, US; as well as SF MoMA in SF, US, where his work is part of the permanent collection. TEZONTLE was also shortlisted for the Serpentine Pavilion in LDN, UK.
Carlos H. Matos was interviewed by Nanna Rebekka in his Mexico City studio in June 2025.
Camera and edit: Jarl Therkelsen Kaldan
Produced by Roxanne Bagheshirin Lærkesen
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2025
Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond and Ny Carlsbergfondet.
This video is supported by Dreyersfond.
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