The Chicago art space Wrightwood 659 is hosting a major survey titled "Dispossessions in the Americas: The Extraction of Bodies, Land, and Heritage from La Conquista to the Present." Featuring over 35 contemporary Latin American artists, including Regina José Galindo and the late Ana Mendieta, the exhibition is the culmination of a multi-year research project funded by the Mellon Foundation. The show explores the historical and ongoing impacts of colonial dispossession on Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and LGBTQ+ communities through diverse media ranging from performance art to installation.
This exhibition is significant for its decentralized approach to curating, having originated from a series of twelve museum shows across Latin America where local institutions were required to acquire works by Indigenous artists. By bringing these perspectives to a U.S. audience, curators Jonathan D. Katz and Eduardo Carrera aim to challenge traditional American narratives and highlight how colonial-era ideologies continue to shape modern foreign policy and social structures across the hemisphere.