Malinche

a Contemporary Art Exhibition Reclaiming the Legacy of La Malinche

Feb 2026

curated by: delisha lopez

Malicnhe- A group exhibition re-examining the figure of La Malinche through contemporary perspectives of translation, identity, and survival. Featuring artists across the Southwest.

For centuries, Malinche has been reduced to a symbol, blamed, romanticized, or erased. Here, she is approached as a predecessor. Legacy is not fixed, but carried through bodies, language, and memory.

The artists in Malinche engage her legacy as inheritance and resistance. Their works move through survival, borderlands, and cultural negotiation, tracing a line from colonial violence to the strategies women continue to shape today.

Malinche featured Chicana, Latina, and Indigenous artists from across the Southwest, including two installations by El Paso (TX) artist Christin Apodaca and Albuquerque (NM) artist Nathaniel Gutierrez.

Mural by Christin Apodaca (TX).

3D video animation by Nathaniel Gutierrez (NM).

Selected Works from Malinche

A selection of works from Malinche.

Marianna T. Olague (TX) “Isis and Annie” Oil on canvas

Artist Statement:

My painting depicts a mother (my sister) holding her child close with a fierce protectiveness. The image is rendered in deep burgundy and purple hues. Although the scene is loving, the dark colors create a somber atmosphere, symbolizing her protective instincts against the dangers of the world. Like La Malinche, I believe all mothers are survivors who must guard their children and themselves against patriarchy and the current state of the world.