In her first solo exhibition, SPECTRUM, Nani Chacon draws content from Diné creation mythology and blends it with her own experiences as a contemporary Indigenous artist. Now on view at SITE Santa Fe, the show features eight newly commissioned large-scale paintings, a site-specific “woven mural,” and a survey of public artworks and personal archival materials.
“I have always been interested in finding my place and how I identify with creating artwork as an Indigenous person. I incorporate abstract elements of Diné imagery in my mural and illustrative practices as a way for me to create stories and bring the viewer into the artwork,” says Chacon.
Alongside SPECTRUM is a triptych of newly commissioned billboards, shaped by symbolism and place. Each billboard design is a reproduction of an outdoor “mini mural” tracing the artist’s life path and lineage, the originals of which are located in Mora, Albuquerque, and Chinle — all significant places for Chacon. Documented, printed, and installed on the west side of SITE Santa Fe’s building, the billboards are on view throughout the duration of the exhibition.
Nani Chacon (b.1980) is a Diné and Chicana artist, born in Gallup, New Mexico. Her practice includes large-scale site-specific public artworks, drawing, installation, and design. Primarily working as a painter and muralist, she has shown nationally and internationally, creating projects that focus on community engagement, led by her personal philosophy that art should be an accessible and meaningful catalyst for social change. Her work is recognized for its unique style, using figurative subject matter to explore the complexity of contemporary Indigenous culture and identities, bringing these voices to the forefront of public arenas.
To learn more, visit sitesantafe.org.
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