Museum of Art Opens Legacies on the Land
The new Santa Fe exhibition explores Japanese American internment history through photography and poetry.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Fine Art
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The New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe recently launched Legacies on the Land, an exhibition featuring photographs of former internment sites. The display pairs the work of photographers Joan Myers and Patrick Nagatani with tanka poems by interned resident Kaiho Soga.
Why it matters
The exhibition creates a contemplative space for visitors to reflect on the historical reality of Japanese American internment during World War II. Curators utilized the intersection of visual art and literature to provide an immersive experience for the local community.
General admission to the New Mexico Museum of Art is $12, while New Mexico residents pay a reduced rate of $7. Visitors aged 16 and under receive free admission to the facility.
The players
New Mexico Museum of Art
This Santa Fe institution serves as the primary host for the exhibition and is a major center for regional art history.
Joan Myers
She is a professional photographer whose work documenting historic sites is central to the current exhibition.
Patrick Nagatani
He is an established photographer known for his work exploring themes of history and landscape.
Kaiho Soga
He was a poet who experienced confinement at internment camps located in Lordsburg and Santa Fe.
The details
The exhibition showcases photographs taken during the 1980s and 1990s at various World War II-era internment sites. By integrating tanka poems written by Kaiho Soga, who was held at camps in Lordsburg and Santa Fe, the collection emphasizes the personal experiences of those interned.
Timeline
Photographers documented the sites throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
The exhibition officially opened to the public on Oct. 17, 2026.
The display is scheduled to run through May 31, 2027.
Industry Dynamics
The exhibition aligns with a broader trend in cultural institutions to revisit the World War II Japanese American internment through interdisciplinary storytelling. This approach positions the museum as a site for public reflection, mirroring collaborative efforts between local venues like Vladem Contemporary.
Residents of New Mexico can visit the museum at a discounted admission rate of $7 by presenting proof of residency. The exhibition remains open for public viewing daily until the final closing date on May 31, 2027.
The takeaway
Visitors may gain a deeper understanding of regional history by engaging with the intersection of visual photography and written poetry. Those planning to attend should take advantage of the residency-based admission discount when visiting the museum.
Further reading
Discover more regional exhibitions and artistic programming by visiting the Fine Art section.
More information
For full details on the exhibition and to purchase tickets, visit the museum exhibition information and ticketing portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Abqjournal.
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