Ekow Eshun, a British Ghanaian curator, broadcaster, and writer, has been appointed to curate the 13th SITE Santa Fe International Biennial, scheduled to open in the summer of 2027. Eshun, who previously directed London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts and has worked as an independent curator for more than a decade, visited Santa Fe on March 20 to begin preliminary research and meet with SITE Santa Fe staff.

The announcement marks a return to a regular two-year cycle for the biennial. The most recent exhibition, curated by Cecilia Alemani, did not label itself a “biennial” due to a delay exceeding two years since the last event. SITE Santa Fe’s decision to re-adopt the term signals its commitment to maintaining consistent scheduling going forward.

During his initial visit, Eshun expressed a keen interest in the layered history of New Mexico, emphasizing themes of migration, cultural presence, and dispossession as key sources of inspiration. “The histories of different communities, different cultural groups and different artistic groups ... are a real point of inspiration,” he said, highlighting the region’s complex social and cultural fabric.

Eshun’s curatorial work has frequently examined issues of cultural identity and race. His past exhibitions include “The Time Is Always Now,” a Black portraiture show at London’s National Portrait Gallery, and “In the Black Fantastic” at Hayward Gallery, which showcased African diasporic artists employing speculative fiction, myth, and magic to explore identity. He noted that artists often challenge perceptions by inviting viewers to see familiar realities in new, sometimes strange or extraordinary ways.

Following the precedent set by Alemani, Eshun intends for the 2027 biennial to extend beyond the museum’s traditional boundaries into the broader Santa Fe community. He described the process as an opportunity for discovery—both of the city itself and the art embedded within it—emphasizing the dynamic experience of engaging with art across varied urban spaces.

While Eshun refrained from defining precise themes at this early stage, he indicated that concepts of history, culture, and wonder are central. He expressed interest in the "quotidian" aspects of life alongside speculative and subconscious dimensions, suggesting that the everyday environment holds layers of potential meaning and even magic.

Acknowledging current global tensions and divisive narratives, Eshun clarified that the biennial will not overtly focus on direct political commentary. Instead, he aims to spotlight artistic expressions that capture the complexity and nuance of the present moment. “Artists are very good at describing the texture of a time,” he said, emphasizing the subtle emotional and sensory experiences that art can convey.

Eshun described his curatorial approach as one of listening and collaboration rather than imposing fixed narratives. He intends for the exhibition’s themes to emerge through dialogue with participating artists, allowing their perspectives and imaginations to shape the presentation.

At the heart of Eshun’s vision is a guiding principle borrowed from creative writing: “Show, don’t tell.” He explained this as an effort to let the artworks communicate directly with audiences, fostering an immersive encounter rather than delivering explicit messages. “The artworks gather in a space. Visitors come. The exhibition is animated by that engagement,” he said. “The works, hopefully, can speak. Hopefully, the works might even sing.”

Eshun emphasized that the forthcoming biennial will be a shared process of exploration and discovery, uniting artists, artworks, and visitors in an evolving dialogue within the distinctive cultural and historical context of New Mexico.