FOUR YEARS OF ART, DESIGN, AND CULTURAL DIALOGUE: THE MATERIA ARCHIVE UNVEILED DURING CDMX ART WEEK 2025

PHOTOGRAPH BY REGINA ROMO.

Materia has always been concerned with the humanity entwined with creation. The word “Materia” (in español) signifies “matter”—both what we are physically made of and what is meaningful to discuss. Founded in 2020 in Mexico City, in the midst of a world-altering pandemic, Materia emerged as a space for creative expression unbound by the usual pressures of productivity and commercialism. Across its first four years of existence, the magazine, creative studio, and agency has led with a strong curiosity into the minds and philosophies of the creatives it collaborates with, delving into what makes each person unique and what commonalities tether them to each other. This curiosity has allowed Materia to set itself apart, allowing its editorial branch to create interview features that feel intimate, expansive, and like important documentations of a distinct era of creativity in Mexico and beyond as it unfolds in real time. Materia is concerned with amplifying the culture and creativity of this current era across the Americas. Mexico City has historically been a magnet for artists, designers, and thinkers who have continuously garnered inspiration from the cultural geography and its unique blend of folklore and modernity. With a trove of conversational treasures in our editorial, it was a natural step to elevate our canon of conversations into a printed volume that bound words into a physical space. The Materia Archive 2020-2024 is a 220 page bookazine that registers these interviews, making it a reference into the reflections, insights, and stories of some of the most iconic and influential architects, designers, and artists of our time. Through the pages of Materia, our conversations span ancestry, identity, patriarchy, mysticism, and the essence of artistry. Curated by Materia Founder and Editor-in-Chief Sarah Len, this publication brings together a star-studded roster of over 100 influential contributors—including architects Tatiana Bilbao and Alberto Kalach, artist Bosco Sodi, and designer Simone Bodmer-Turner—while spotlighting themes of identity, environment, and the evolving role of design in cultural dialogue.

As Sarah puts it, “Through the pages of The Materia Archive Bookazine, we’re inviting readers into a dialogue—one that transcends borders, disciplines, and expectations. It’s a celebration of creativity as a unifying force and a platform to explore the richness of ambiguity.”

To celebrate the book, Materia hosted a mid-day art-week fete on Friday, February 7th, at our studio in la San Rafael, Mexico City. Notable guests like Julia Carrillo, Mani Nilchiani, Johnathan Bailey, Alejandro Garcia Contreras, and Anfisa Vrubel leafed through the pages of the Materia archive. Delicious and refreshing non-alcoholic cocktails were served courtesy of Mercado Gama, who also provided canned wines, as well as kombucha by Vida Bebida. Tables were stacked with the limited 250 copy run of bookazine copies, and our living room played a bespoke soundtrack created by music curators SoundBites.

To buy a copy visit Lolo magazine stand in CDMX, or shop online through our website.