Family Dinner, 2026

“Family Dinner” is from Marcelo Mayen’s ongoing body of work, Audition Room.

The jellytube lawn chairs pictured in the photograph are from Marcelo’s childhood. Growing up, he remembers seeing these colorful chairs at family gatherings and being struck by the strange contrast between their cheerful colors and the arguments unfolding around them. His parents might be speaking over one another, tensions rising, while sitting in these wonderfully bright, almost playful chairs.

During the pandemic, Marcelo returned to visit his family in Texas and found several of the chairs stacked in the garage. The moment he saw them, he knew he would eventually photograph them, even though the image itself had not yet fully formed.

The room in Nobody Listens is inside Marcelo’s own apartment in New York and was constructed by the artist specifically for Audition Room. The wallpaper, carpet, curtains, furniture, and surrounding details were all selected and arranged by Marcelo as part of the world in which the series exists.

“This photograph, to me, represents the chaos of a family dynamic. Nobody really listens. Everyone is speaking over each other, yet the love, and the colors, are all still there.”

Presented at a large scale, Nobody Listens becomes both a deeply personal family memory and a striking study of color, disorder, and affection.

The work is printed on fine art paper and presented in a museum-quality frame made from wood imported from Italy, with 99% UV-protective museum glass. Its scale, color, and sculptural presence make it a powerful statement piece for a residential or commercial collection.