April 21, 2026
Internationally acclaimed Mexican artist leads a citywide collaboration celebrating art, community, and global connection.
Kansas City, Mo. — Betsabeé Romero, the internationally renowned Mexican artist, is set to bring a dynamic series of activations across various locations in the Kansas City metro area in anticipation of the World Cup 2026, kicking off in April and running through December 2026. This collaborative effort is made possible through partnerships among the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City, Belger Arts, the Kansas City Convention Center, Mattie Rhodes Center, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College.
Starting with engagements in Kansas City on Saturday, April 25, Romero aims to unite the local community, offering a chance for everyone to engage with and celebrate the excitement of a world-class event in their own city. At the Kansas City Convention Center, local artists and volunteers will play a key role in activations around Tejiendo Redes (Weaving Nets), organized by the Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City and Mattie Rhodes Center, joining Romero in the recreation of a soccer field and two goals (porterías), a metaphorical net, binding together diverse voices and fostering a sense of unity among participants. The public is invited to experience this installation through July 30.
On Wednesday, April 29, Romero will be at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College for an artist talk and the opening reception for A Field of Roots, a special installation that engages with ideas of mobility, cycles, and the dynamism of cultures throughout soccer (fútbol), which will be on view through December 6. Romero will be introduced by Mexican Consul Soileh Padilla Mayer.
During 2026, her works will also be on view at the Kansas City Convention Center, Belger Arts, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College.
With over two decades of experience, Romero’s work explores themes such as migration and mobility through the recontextualization of symbols and daily rituals from global consumer culture, such as cars, tattoos, and urban signage.
Romero has held over 100 individual exhibitions on five continents, with notable showcases at the British Museum, Grand Palais, York Avenue in Washington, Nevada Museum of Art, the Mexico Pavilion at Expo Dubai 2020, Place Du Louvre, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and several more.
April Events
- Saturday, April 25 - 11 a.m.
Weaving Nets Opening Ceremony
South Lawn of the Kansas City Convention Center
301 W. 13th Street, Suite 100
Kansas City, MO 64105 - Wednesday, April 29 - 6 p.m.
A Field with Roots Artist Talk and Opening Reception
Introduction by Consul Soileh Padilla Mayer
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
Johnson County Community College
12345 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KS 66210
Upcoming Works on View
A Field with Roots (Un campo con raíces)
Romero’s work at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College, A Field with Roots, engages with ideas of mobility, cycles, and the dynamism of cultures throughout history – a history where migration and cultural blending have enriched humanity creativity and expression around the globe. Sport is a vital part of culture, and soccer (fútbol) specifically represents, for Romero, social fabric and resistance. People may not speak the same language, but they speak fútbol, finding identity and refuge through sport wherever they go.
A Field with Roots, which will be on view April 30 through December 6, comprises three works - The Soccer Endless Resistance Column (Columna a la resistencia interminable del fútbol), The Reflection and the Trace: Around the Globe (El reflejo y la huella: Alrededor del globo), and The Serpent’s Egg (El huevo de la serpiente).
“The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is proud to have engaged Betsabeé Romero to create three new site-specific artworks for the Museum’s lobby,” said JoAnne Northrup, Executive Director and Chief Curator of the Nerman Museum. “Romero’s work will inspire the Johnson County Community College campus community, greater Kansas City, and international visitors.”
Weaving Nets (Tejiendo Redes)
This artistic project includes two oversized steel soccer-goal structures developed with 13 volunteer artists at the Mattie Rhodes Center. Positioned at opposite ends of the Convention Center’s South Plaza Lawn, each structure incorporates 160 metallic figures and hand-woven gold and red ropes.
“We want every resident to feel part of this event, showing that you don’t need to be at the stadium to showcase this city as a vibrant destination. By transforming public spaces into canvases, we foster a sense of ownership where every citizen becomes a co-author of the city’s—and the tournament’s—global narrative through art,” said Soileh Padilla Mayer, Consul of Mexico. “Above all, this collaboration celebrates the profound friendship between Mexico and the United States, proving that our cultural ties are the bridge to shared prosperity and a brighter future.”
Beyond local collaboration, this project connects the city with artistic communities in other host cities, creating a shared network of creativity.
“We are honored to welcome Betsabeé Romero and Tejiendo Redes to the Kansas City Convention Center at such a meaningful moment for our city,” said Executive Director of the Kansas City Convention & Entertainment Facilities Kimiko Gilmore. “This installation captures the spirit of the World Cup by bringing people together across cultures to create something powerful and shared, and created alongside our local community, it honors tradition while celebrating bold creativity in the heart of Kansas City.”
“I believe Weaving Nets will spark meaningful new relationships within our community and beyond, connecting us with artists and cultural organizations on both a national and international level. I’m truly excited about the impact this exhibition will have,” said John Fierro, CEO of Mattie Rhodes.
Artist Tyson Johnson said, “Doing the project with Betsabeé as a part of something international and being a part of something that is extremely women-led – all of my other co-artists have been women as well and so that’s been really exciting to work with such a deep community involved with Mattie Rhodes in Kansas City. Go soccer!”
Endless Spiral (Espiral sin fin)
“Betsabeé Romero has a long relationship with The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art,” said Julián Zugazagoitia, Director & CEO of the Nelson-Atkins. “In 2012, she collaborated with the museum for its annual Día de los Muertos festival, transforming Kirkwood Hall. The following year, the museum acquired two of her works for our collection. Thanks to the generosity of C. Richard Belger and Evelyn Craft Belger, this relationship continues to deepen, along with the museum’s holdings of artists with ties to Latin America, with their gift of Endless Spiral (Espiral sin fin), which we are thrilled will make its debut this summer as part of this city-wide celebration.”
Endless Spiral (Espiral sin fin) consists of five tires engraved by hand and joined together. It relates to Romero’s practice of integrating Pre-Columbian history with global consumption and recycling to create an ongoing relationship between the past and the present. The title of the piece along with its form also suggests ideas of time and motion.
Endless Spiral (Espiral sin fin) will be on view near the entrance to the Bloch Building on the Plaza level beginning in early June through August.
Betsabeé Romero, Mexican (born 1963). Endless Spiral, 2012. Rubber, wood, paint, and wire, overall 29 1/2 x 31 x 80 inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. Promised gift of C. Richard and Evelyn Belger, PG2023.2
Vitrales Project
Betsabeé Romero is collaborating with artists from the Belger Glass Annex, Belger Arts’ glass studio, to create an installation featuring stained glass windows positioned like the windows of a Volkswagen Beetle. Inspired by the concept of mobility and the unique perspective offered by a vehicle, this work delves into the mythic status of cars as symbols of unattainable identity and as “temples” of turbo-capitalism. By combining Gothic cathedral-stained glass with modern technology, the installation highlights the interplay of light and color, echoing the influence and language of both religious and contemporary discourse. Installation location and dates to be announced.
About the Partners
The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art
The Nerman Museum serves as a cultural leader, facilitating deeper understanding of our world and contemporary issues through their exhibitions, permanent collection, and works installed across the JCCC campus.
The Nerman Museum is located at 12345 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas. Hours are Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 913-469-3000, or visit nermanmuseum.org
The Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City
The Consulate of Mexico in Kansas City is a diplomatic mission representing the Government of Mexico in the states of Kansas and Missouri. It provides services to Mexican citizens while promoting Mexican culture, strengthening economic relations, and assisting individuals interested in visiting, investing in, or learning more about Mexico.
The Consulate is located at 1617 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, Missouri 64108, and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 816-556-0800 ext. 724 or visit consulmex.sre.gob.mx/kansascity.
Belger Arts
Connecting art and community is at the heart of Belger Arts’ mission, spanning three Kansas City, Missouri, locations. The Belger Arts Center exhibits contemporary art from the Belger Collection and by a rich variety of local, national, and international artists.
Belger Crane Yard Studios is an arts complex that provides studio and exhibition space for artists, plus a range of programming in ceramics education. The Belger Glass Annex is a state-of-the-art glass studio that hosts artist demos and visiting artists, and where classes are taught. More information: BelgerArts.org
The Kansas City Convention Center
For more than 50 years, the Kansas City Convention Center has served as a welcoming place where people gather, connect, and experience the best of Kansas City through meetings, entertainment, and cultural events. As a major economic driver for the region, it continues to bring together fans, professionals, and visitors in a vibrant, inclusive environment. Learn more: kcconvention.com
Mattie Rhodes Center
Mattie Rhodes Center (MRC) is a dedicated non-profit organization with more than 130 years of service to the Greater Kansas City community, addressing the social determinants of health serving over 23,000 individuals annually. Essential programming in Public Safety, Behavioral Health, Workforce Development, Public Health, Youth Development, Community Development, and Cultural Arts Education fulfill MRC’s mission to empower, advocate for, and connect the diverse communities, families, and individuals it serves. Learn more at mattierhodes.org.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
The Nelson-Atkins in Kansas City is recognized nationally and internationally as one of America’s finest art museums. The museum opens its doors free of charge to people of all backgrounds.
The Nelson-Atkins is located at 45th and Oak Streets, Kansas City, Missouri. Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. For museum information, phone 816.751.1ART (1278) or visit nelson-atkins.org.
CONTACT:
Emma Swinney
Public and Media Relations Coordinator
[email protected]
913-469-8500, ext. 4949
Chris Gray
VP, Strategic Communications & Marketing
[email protected]
913-469-8500, ext. 7623
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