EDUCATION
2026 International Training in the Trifocal Approach to Trauma, Institute of Family Constellations and Trauma Approach (ICFT), Argentina. 2022–24 International Training in Systemic and Family Constellations, Bert Hellinger Center (CBH), Uruguay. 2017 Curatorial Studies, Espacio Garibaldi, Verónica Cordeiro (Brazil), Uruguay. 2006–08 Graduate Diploma in Political Science, Institute of Political Science, University of the Republic (UDELAR), Uruguay. 2004 National Professor of Sculpture, Regina Pacis School of Fine Arts, Argentina. 1998–04 B.A. in Political Science, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina. 1993–98 National Drawing Teacher, Centro Polivalente de Arte de San Isidro (CPASI), Argentina.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2025–26 GEMA, National Museum of Visual Arts (MNAV), Uruguay. 2024 Conquista IV, Cultural OBRA, Uruguay. 2020 What Did Alice Ask?, Pensión Cultural Milán, Uruguay. 2018 Conquista, Pensión Cultural Milán, Uruguay. 2015–16 Contienda 2nd Round, Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo (EAC – Contemporary Art Space), Uruguay. 2007 Untitled, Onomato Gallery, Düsseldorf, Germany. 2006 HAUS 3, Capital Nord Rhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany. 2005 Untitled, Kunstpunkte – Open Studios in Düsseldorf and Surroundings, Germany. 2002 Permanent Exhibition, Sonoridad Amarilla Gallery, Argentina. 2001 Life as a Circus, Espacio Juana de Arco, Argentina.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Fondo, Resonancias desde el Abismo. Prácticas artísticas entre presiones y frecuencias extrañas, Spanish Cultural Center (CCE), Uruguay. 2024 Untitled, 25 Años de Arte Contemporáneo, Ralli Museum, Uruguay. 2023 Conquista III, Campo Artfest, Uruguay. 2022 Conquista II, Montevideo International Biennial, Salón de los Pasos Perdidos, Legislative Palace, Uruguay. . . Reconstrucción, Abstracción en Movimiento, Atchugarry Museum of Contemporary Art (MACA), Uruguay.
. Saqueo, 60th Gladys Afamado National Visual Arts Award, National Institute of Visual Arts (INAV), Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC), Uruguay.
. Camino a Osiris, Son Mujeres Artistas, Ignacio Iturria Foundation, Uruguay.
. Ascenso por la madriguera, Entalpía Onírica, Galería Otro Lugar, Uruguay.
. Untitled, Cultura y Arte Contemporáneo, ZOCO Gallery, Uruguay.
. Camino a Osiris, Son Mujeres Artistas, Galería Otro Lugar, Uruguay. 2021-22 Conflicto, Por una cabeza, Zorrilla Museum, Uruguay. 2021 Fuerza de lanzamiento (Parte II). Lo que quedó después de mí, 59th National Visual Arts Award, Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo (EAC – Contemporary Art Space), Uy. .
Untitled, ESTE ARTE, Diana Saravia Gallery, Uruguay.
Untitled, ELLAS 2.0, Campo Artfest, Galería Otro Lugar, Uruguay.
Untitled, El universo en 8 movimientos, Espacio Garash, Uruguay.
Mesa wudu, Live 2021, Pensión Cultural Milán, Uruguay.
Sahumerio de purificación, Al rescate del mundo, Espacio Tribu, Uruguay.
Untitled, Alto Circuito, Pensión Cultural Milán, Uruguay.
Untitled, R E S P I R A, Pensión Cultural Milán, Uruguay.
(Entreparéntesis), Luis Terán Studio, Argentina. 2020 Fuerza de lanzamiento (Parte I), Creadoras uruguayas MMXX, Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), Uruguay.
¿Qué se preguntó Alicia?, Dimensiones fantásticas, Paideia Art Gallery, Uruguay.
Elefanta, Erotic Art, Diana Saravia Contemporary Art, Uruguay. 2019 Untitled, PINTA Miami, Diana Saravia Contemporary Art, United States.
Los nísperos, Idamanía_Objetos poéticos-poesía objetual, Spanish Cultural Center (CCE), Uruguay.
Untitled, Diarios de Odio, Proyecto Casamario reside en el SUBTE, SUBTE Exhibition Center, Uruguay.
Untitled, Temporada 19, Diana Saravia Contemporary Art, Uruguay.
Untitled, Diarios de Odio, Proyecto Casamario reside en el SUBTE, SUBTE Exhibition Center, Uruguay. 2018 Invasión, Imaginación: diálogos y desafíos. Gurvich y cinco artistas contemporáneos, Gurvich Museum, Uruguay.
Sahumerio de purificación, ESTE ARTE, Diana Saravia Contemporary Art, Uruguay. 2017 Conquista, 48th Montevideo Visual Arts Award, SUBTE Exhibition Center, Uruguay. 2016 Contienda 3er. Round, with Juan Landarín, Convivencias, SUBTE Exhibition Center, Uruguay. 2015 Contienda 2do. Round, Phase 7, Buenos Aires Art and Technology Meeting, Recoleta Cultural Center (CCR), Argentina.
AWARDS & HONORS
2024 Jury Member, 61st Clever Lara National Visual Arts Award, National Institute of Visual Arts (INAV), Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC), Uruguay.
Designer of the Laetitia ESTE ARTE Award Statuette, ESTE ARTE Fair, Uruguay. 2022 Recipient of the Grand Acquisition Prize, 60th Gladys Afamado National Visual Arts Award, National Institute of Visual Arts (INAV), Ministry of Education and Culture . (MEC), Uruguay. 2021 Selected for the Mentorship Program for Artists and Researchers, Professional Category, Project Development, National Institute of Visual Arts (INAV), Ministry of . Education and Culture (MEC), Uruguay.
Selected for the 59th Margaret Whyte National Visual Arts Award, Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo (EAC – Contemporary Art Space), Uruguay. 2019 Selected for the 49th National Visual Arts Award, Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo (EAC – Contemporary Art Space), Uruguay. 2017 Recipient of the Artistic Training and Creation Fund (FEFCA), Professional Category, Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC), Uruguay.
Selected for the 48th Montevideo Visual Arts Award, SUBTE Exhibition Center, Uruguay.
Selected to represent Uruguay at Phase 7, Buenos Aires Art and Technology Meeting, Recoleta Cultural Center (CCR), Argentina. 2014–15 Selected for the SISMO Program: Meetings for the Analysis, Production and Circulation of Artistic Practice, Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo (EAC – Contemporary Art . Space), Uruguay. 2005 Recipient of the Double Honourable Mention, Bahía Blanca National Biennial, Argentina.
Recipient of the Honourable Mention in Sculpture, Women's Pavilion, Government of the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
COLLECTIONS
National Museum of Visual Arts (MNAV), Uruguay.
RESIDENCIES
2015 Encontro de Artistas Novos, Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo (EAC – Contemporary Art Space), Uruguay. 2007 Residency Fellowship, Ministry of Culture of the State Capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, Düsseldorf, Germany.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE (SELECTED)
2024– Artistic Project: Analysis, Method and Development, Catholic University of Uruguay (UCU), Uruguay.
Project mentoring, guidance, and development (hybrid).
BIO
Guadalupe Ayala (Buenos Aires, 1976) is a visual artist, lecturer, political scientist, and systemic and family therapist. She has lived and worked in Montevideo, Uruguay, since 2006. Her work explores the relationship between human beings, nature, the self, and social constructions across time. Working with organic, industrial, and domestic materials, she creates sculptures and installations that bring together beauty and decay, intimacy and monumentality, the familiar and the uncanny. Both autobiographical and historically informed, her practice investigates power relations, contemplation, and spirituality through processes of conflict and domination, as well as adaptation, transformation, coexistence, and exchange. She examines how meaning is constructed in order to suspend seemingly stable oppositions—such as beauty and violence, fragility and strength, humanity and nature—and to propose new possibilities for perception and experience.
Ayala holds a Bachelor's degree and a postgraduate diploma in Political Science (University of Buenos Aires; Universidad de la República, Uruguay), and is a certified teacher of Drawing and Sculpture (Centro Polivalente de Arte de San Isidro; Regina Pacis). She trained in the experimental studio of Héctor Maranesi (Argentina), studied curatorial practice with Verónica Cordeiro (Brazil–Uruguay), and participated in mentoring programs and artist clinics with Joanna Warsza, Marina de Caro, Rodrigo Alonso, among others. She has exhibited internationally since 2001. Her recent exhibitions include the 5th Montevideo International Biennial (2023). She has received the Gladys Afamado Grand National Prize for Visual Arts (2022), the FEFCA National Artistic Excellence Award (2016), and the Düsseldorf Residency Fellowship (2007), among other distinctions. In 2024, she served on the jury of the 61st Clever Lara National Prize for Visual Arts and designed the Laetitia ESTE ARTE Award, presented to Ama Amoedo. In 2025, she presented GEMA, her first solo exhibition at Uruguay's National Museum of Visual Arts.