The Museum of International Folk Art is set to unveil a new exhibition titled "Truths Be Told: Artists Activate Traditions" from December 5, 2025, to January 20, 2027. This exhibition will feature over a dozen contemporary artists who incorporate folk traditions from their communities to tackle pressing social issues and reclaim overlooked histories.
Curator Laura Addison said, "This exhibition redefines how we think about tradition. The artists in Truths Be Told are not simply preserving culture; they’re actively using it to challenge injustice, build community, and imagine more equitable futures. In their hands, tradition becomes a living language for truth-telling."
The exhibition will showcase various traditional art forms such as quilt-making, ceramics, regalia, basketry, and video. These mediums are being used as tools for civic dialogue and healing. Participating artists include Roberto Benavidez, Mary Lee Bendolph, Ambreen Butt, Kathryn Clark, Sonya Clark, Nicholas Galanin, Cannupa Hanska Luger, Carolyn Mazloomi, Elyse Pignolet, Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Beverly Y. Smith, Colectivo Subterráneos, Sarah Mary Taylor, Kukuli Velarde, and Marie Watt.
Artworks in the exhibition address themes like the legacy of Native American boarding schools and environmental degradation. They also touch on housing insecurity and gender violence. Some pieces use irony or beauty to reveal painful histories while others focus on resilience and hope.
The Museum of International Folk Art is part of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs and holds the largest collection of international folk art globally with over 163,000 objects from more than 160 countries.
Information from this article can be found here.
