Francis Alÿs and the hand games at Peter Kilchmann
Published on 08/22/2026 at 12:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Francis Alÿs keeps returning to play as structure, method, and subject. Galerie Peter Kilchmann showed Handspiele in Zurich through July 24, 2026, with seven new animations and related works, according to the gallery's exhibition page.
Hand games and animation
Galerie Peter Kilchmann's exhibition page describes Handspiele as Alÿs's fifth solo show with the gallery and his first devoted specifically to animations. The presentation brought together seven new animations, paintings, drawings, installations, and publications spanning his career.
The show also tied the animations back to Children's Games, the long-running project that has shaped much of Alÿs's reputation. The gallery says the works were built from hundreds of hand-drawn pencil images.
Play across public life
That emphasis on gesture fits a larger body of work in which play becomes a social form rather than decoration. In the gallery text, hand games appear as a basic, shared language, while the Children's Games series documents children at play in public spaces around the world.
FotoFocus also placed Alÿs in Big Tent, its inaugural exhibition at FotoFocus Center in Cincinnati, on view through August 22, 2026. The exhibition page lists him among artists exploring American public life and collective exchange.
More news and background on Francis Alÿs
Recent shows, museum appearances, and work series keep Alÿs visible across exhibitions and collections.
How Francis Alÿs works
Alÿs is a conceptual artist whose practice moves between video, painting, drawing, installation, and performance. The Peter Kilchmann text places him in Mexico City and links his work to major institutions such as Tate Modern, MoMA, and the Barbican Centre.
Where Francis Alÿs stands now
Francis Alÿs currently appears in the ongoing FotoFocus group exhibition Big Tent through August 22, 2026.
Key facts on Francis Alÿs
- Artist: Francis Alÿs
- Medium / Genre: Conceptual art, video, painting, drawing, installation, performance
- Born: 1959, Antwerp, Belgium
- Place(s) of practice: Mexico City
- Active since: 1990s
- Key work groups: Children's Games, Paradox of Praxis, When Faith Moves Mountains, The Liar, the Copy of the Liar
- Current/last exhibition: Big Tent - FotoFocus Center, Cincinnati - May 29-August 22, 2026
- Major collections: Tate, MoMA, Barbican Centre
- Awards: Belgium at the 59th Venice Biennale, 2022
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Francis Alÿs
Where is Francis Alÿs currently on view?
He appears in FotoFocus's Big Tent at FotoFocus Center in Cincinnati through August 22, 2026.
What did Francis Alÿs show in Zurich?
Galerie Peter Kilchmann presented Handspiele through July 24, 2026, with seven new animations and related works.
Which major institutions are named in Francis Alÿs's gallery profile?
Galerie Peter Kilchmann lists Tate Modern, MoMA, and the Barbican Centre among institutions that have presented his work.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
