Wrightwood 659 in Chicago's Lincoln Park has opened two new exhibitions: 'Chinatown USA,' a survey of queer Asian-American artist Martin Wong's autobiographical works curated by Yasufumi Nakamori and Ashley Janke, and 'Dispossessions in the Americas: The Extraction of Bodies, Land, and Heritage from La Conquista to the Present,' co-curated by Jonathan Katz and Eduardo Carrera, featuring over 40 works by 36 Latin American artists exploring themes of indigeneity, gender, sexuality, and queerness. The exhibitions highlight Wong's depictions of San Francisco's Chinatown and his partner Miguel Piñero, as well as contemporary works like Lulu Molinares' 'Camisa de Fuerza Para Yo (Contra),' which addresses anti-trans violence.
The exhibitions matter because they center queer and indigenous voices at a time when U.S. government funding for AIDS research is being slashed and queer art faces widespread attacks. Wrightwood 659's independence from government grants allows it to boldly amplify marginalized perspectives, using art to challenge colonial hierarchies and engage audiences in urgent social and political issues. The shows also bring international attention to Latin American artists and revive interest in Martin Wong's under-exhibited personal narratives.