Exhibition explores migration, identity, and cultural inheritance through the work of nine contemporary artists
‘Where Memory Becomes Land‘
Curated by: Cathy Le, Paola Ward, Asami Robledo-Allen Yamamoto, and Corri Greene
Location: Central Library Gallery, 2nd Floor Southwest, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St., Austin, TX
Dates: July 16 – September 13, 2026
Public Reception: July 26, 2026 | 1–4 p.m
Emerging curators Cathy Le, Paola Ward, Asami Robledo-Allen Yamamoto, and Corri Greene will debut their culminating exhibition, Where Memory Becomes Land, at Austin Public Library’s Central Library Gallery this summer. The exhibition opens July 16 and runs through September 13, 2026.
Where Memory Becomes Land is the final project of the inaugural _OFCOLOR x Austin Public Library Curation Fellowship, a seven-month program designed to support emerging and community-based curators in developing exhibitions, public programs, and creative projects that connect art and audiences in meaningful ways. The fellowship is made possible in part through support from The Library Foundation.
Presented in partnership with local nonprofit arts organization _OFCOLOR, the exhibition reflects the fellows’ collaborative curatorial vision and explores how memory, migration, and cultural inheritance shape our understanding of identity, place, and belonging.
Featuring work by Alejandra Almuelle, Lys Santamaria, Sandra Fernandez, Rewon Shimray, Rakhee Jain Desai, Raul Rodriguez, Liza Zaldivar Salazar, Jo Kim, and Nashelle Williams, the exhibition brings together artists who engage lived experience, (im)migration, and cultural memory through diverse materials and processes.
Using fiber, clay, textiles, photography, and layered forms, the featured works trace how stories travel across borders and take shape in new environments. The pieces hold traces of personal and collective histories, grounding memory in physical form while inviting viewers to consider evolving ideas of home, connection, and community.
Shaped by multiple lived perspectives, the exhibition is grounded in care, openness, and critical inquiry. It positions the library as a shared public space for reflection, encounter, and exchange, where art can foster dialogue and deeper understanding.
Many of the featured artists come from historically underrepresented backgrounds and examine how boundaries are created and maintained while asking who is seen, who is heard, and who has access. Together, their work encourages audiences to engage with questions of identity, belonging, and cultural continuity.
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