02. Unearthing Futures

KATE MILLER KATE MILLER KATE MILLER KATE MILLER

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros
June 27, 2026–February 28, 2027
Assistant Curator

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros explores contemporary earthen artworks, establishing a profound dialogue between regional roots and global perspectives. As visitors engage with the exhibition, they embark on a journey through time, examining the intricate relationship between humanity and the elemental material of unfired earth.

At its core, this exhibition highlights the transformative power of mud—a substance that bridges tradition and innovation, ecology and artistry. Through the work of rafa esparza, Christine Howard Sandoval, Ronald Rael, Santino Gonzales, Joanna Keane Lopez, and Gabriel Chaile, Unearthing Futures navigates the intersections of technological progress, societal change, and environmental stewardship. Each artwork invites reflection on a rapidly evolving world, encouraging viewers to consider the past, engage with the present, and imagine futures shaped by deeper connections to the land.

The legacy of adobe and earthen clay in the Southwest is deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions and enriched by successive cultural influences. From Pueblo communities to Spanish settlers, adobe architecture embodies resilience, adaptation, and collaboration. Unearthing Futures reflects on this legacy, challenging audiences to reconsider their relationship to the land and its materials while engaging with contemporary reinterpretations of these practices.

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros affirms the enduring capacity of art to uncover overlooked narratives, challenge entrenched perspectives, and envision new possibilities. Through the works on display, visitors embark on a journey that transcends boundaries of time and place, discovering in the earth itself a profound site of continuity and transformation.

A publication expanding on Unearthing Futures with Radius Books is forthcoming.

Read about Unearthing Futures in Artforum here.

Photos by Brad Trone.