Meet Valéria Piccoli, Mia’s First-ever Curator of Latin American Art
Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 2:57AMArticle by Becky Fillinger, photo provided
Welcome to Minneapolis, Dr. Valéria Piccoli! She is one of Mia’s latest hires and is the Chair of the Arts of the Americas and the Curator of Latin American Art. This is Mia’s first-ever curator of Latin American art. We talked to Dr. Piccoli about collaborating with other art institutions, Latino businesses and communities.
Valéria PiccoliQ: Congratulations on your appointment at Mia as the Ken and Linda Cutler Chair of the Arts of the Americas and Curator of Latin American Art! It is exciting news and has been reported by many local and national news outlets. One thing that you mention is that in addition to getting to know Mia's collection of Latin American art, you'll get to know the local community. I want to delve a bit deeper into how you will connect and collaborate with the local community. I know you've only started your role in November but let's see what you're thinking about that goal at this time. Will you collaborate with other art institutions?
A: Thank you! I definitely intend to collaborate. It is fundamental to bring Mia to the network of museums and institutions that hold important collections of Latin American art, as well as to create spaces for debate around scholarship that has been advancing research in this field. And it is also fundamental to highlight Mia's pioneerism in terms of creating a department for Latin American art that is integrated with the art produced in the U.S. (Indigenous and non-Indigenous). We are talking about the Americas, from a hemispheric perspective. It is a very ambitious project.
Q: The Twin Cities has a very diverse Latino population. The largest group is Mexican immigrants, followed by Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Ecuadorians, Cubans and Colombian Minnesotans. Is it important to your role to reflect the changing Latino community in the Twin Cities? How will you go about learning more about the Twin Cities’ Latino communities?
A: Of course! It would be a mistake to consider the Latino community as a monolithic thing. It is important to my role to understand how the museum can better represent the diversity of cultures that come together in this place. I strongly believe in the social role of museums. Museums serve communities and need to be ready to listen to them. That is, to create experiences and connections that are meaningful to them. At Mia, we are creating strategies to reach out to the Latino communities in a fruitful way.
Q: We have a Latino Chamber of Commerce in Minnesota. Could you envision working with Latino businesses? Non-profit groups?
A: I didn't know that. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I surely envision working with anyone who wants to come on board and help Mia build something that will be cherished and admired for generations to come.
Q: Will you seek out upcoming Latino artists?
A: Well, I think it is important to highlight that the Arts of the Americas department is responsible for building a collection and a program for artworks made until 1970. Everything that was produced after that, and this encompasses contemporary and emerging artists, is under the umbrella of the Global Contemporary Art department, led by my colleague Casey Riley. We will for sure work in collaboration around art from Latin America as a whole.
Q: Almost two-thirds of Latino Minnesotans live in the Twin Cities metro area counties of Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka and Washington, but Latinos have made their home in all 87 counties. Do you see Mia connecting with communities outside the Twin Cities with large numbers of Latino residents?
A: I believe that the main connections to be established, at least in the first moment, will be with the local communities. This is a long-term project and I am sure that in time it can unfold to other formats and proposals.
Q: How may we stay current with your news?
A: Stay tuned to Mia's website. The first exhibition of our department, called ReVisión, will open in July 2023. It was produced by the Denver Art Museum (our first institutional collaboration) and presents works from Latin America since pre-contact with Europeans, including colonial and contemporary art. It is an exhibition that speaks to enduring questions of identity, of relationship to the land and many different themes that mark the history and culture of Latin America.
