With this shift in conversations on museum diversity from black representation to Latinx representation, it has revealed many similar as well as many differences between these two groups. The largest issue that Latinx artists face is the recognition that they are Americans and belong in American art museums. As Latin American art is found in historical museums and met with high historical regard, there is an every present misconception that Latinx art is innately foreign and exotic like its historical counterpart. There is much curiosity of Latin art and the strangeness that white communities believe it carries. This proves to be a very discouraging stereotype for many artists who choose not to identify as Latinx or wish to be seen not as a voice for Latinx representation but as an artist with independent messages and expression. This is a similar issue with black artists who are pigeonholed in black exhibits and black galleries to only be labeled as black art. These forms of stereotyping further emphasize this institutional bias that white is the norm.

Similar to black artists and black identity, the term Latinx is an extremely enveloping term that includes over twenty different countries of origin. By using such a term as Latinx, the rich cultural history behind immigrants and Americans from Latin descent is brushed over and ignored. This even  ignores and rudely excludes the identity and representation of mixed raced individuals. These such biases come from this myth that identities compromise value within the art world (Dávila, 174-6). As curators and researchers, it will be a growing responsibility to do what we can to eradicate this myth and start breaking down the boundaries and biases that have kept Latinx work in the basement of collections and not in the galleries.

Reading References:

Dávila Arlene M. Latinx Art: Artists, Markets, Politics. Duke University Press, 2020.

Osorio, Camila, et al. “The Battle Over the Soul of El Museo Del Barrio.” The New Yorker,www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-battle-over-the-soul-of-el-museo-del-barrio.

Pérez-Barreiro, Gabriel. “The Accidental Tourist: American Collections of Latin American Art.” Collecting the New, 2013, pp. 131–146

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