Who Gets to Define 'American Art'? Inside the 2026 Whitney Biennial

Inside one of the country’s largest contemporary art exhibitions, the Whitney Biennial, slimy green sculptures stare back at you, the scent of lemongrass fills the air, and the hum of insects surrounds you. This year, for the first time in the museum’s history, the exhibition is co-curated by a Latina. Marcela Guerrero brings a new perspective to the prestigious show. Of the 56 total artists displaying work this year, 16 are Latino, with different things to say. We take you inside the exhibition that is re-shaping the narrative around who and what kind of art gets to be considered “American.” Latino USA is the longest-running news and culture radio program in the U.S., centering Latino stories and hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa. Follow the show to get every episode. Want to support our independent journalism? Join Futuro+ for exclusive episodes, sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes chisme on Latino USA and all our podcasts. Follow us on TikTok and YouTube. Subscribe to our newsletter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.