The Catalina Museum for Art & History has announced a solo exhibition by artist Narsiso Martinez titled "Witnesses of Labor — Portraits of Essential Workers," running from April 11 through October 11, 2026. The show features approximately 15 works, including large-scale installations and mixed-media portraits painted directly onto discarded produce boxes. Martinez, a former farmworker himself, utilizes these found materials to elevate the visibility of migrant laborers and agricultural workers who sustain the American food system.
This exhibition is significant for its intersection of social realism and contemporary identity politics, highlighting the often-invisible contributions of Latinx communities. By repurposing the literal packaging of global commerce into fine art, Martinez challenges viewers to confront the human cost of consumption. The show reinforces Martinez’s rising prominence in the art world following his 2023 Frieze Impact Prize and the acquisition of his work by major institutions like LACMA and the Hammer Museum.