Francis Alÿs (b. 1959 in Belgium; lives and works in Mexico City) uses poetic and allegorical methods to address political and social realities, such as national borders, localism and globalism, areas of conflict and community, and the benefits and detriments of progress.

Alÿs’ personal, ambulatory explorations of cities form the basis for his practice and act as a coordinated reflection. The extensive and varied documentation he compiles for his actions addresses the ethical and aesthetic dilemmas raised by the act of making art in this complex time. As one of the foremost artists of his generation, Alÿs has produced a diverse body of work that includes video, painting, performance, drawing, photography and various types of documentation.