Ways of Knowing

On March 8, the Walker Art Center will open a compelling new exhibition that presents the work of 11 artists from around the world who make research an integral part of their practices. Titled Ways of Knowing, the exhibition invites consideration of contemporary arts’ critical role in the creation of knowledge. It will remain on view through September 7, 2025. 

Ways of Knowing includes works across a broad range of mediums, including drawing, photography, video, and large-scale installation. It features a new commission that includes both elements of installation and performance by Eduardo Navarro (b. 1979, Buenos Aires) as well as new and recent works by Iosu Aramburu (b. 1986, Lima, Peru), Sammy Baloji (b. 1978, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo), Anna Boghiguian (b. 1946, Cairo), Cabello/Carceller (b. 1963, Paris/b. 1964, Madrid), Chang Yuchen (b. 1989, Shanxi, China), Petrit Halilaj (b. 1986, Kostërrc [Skenderaj], Kosovo), Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, b. 1984, Ferndale, WA), Christine Howard Sandoval (enrolled member of Chalon, b. 1975, Anaheim, CA), Gala Porras-Kim (b. 1984, Bogotá), and Rose Salane (b. 1992, New York). The majority of works will be on view in the United States for the first time. 

The exhibition continues the Walker’s long-standing investment in thematic presentations that explore and give platform to emerging methodologies, art forms, and conceptual investigations as well as its ongoing support for early career artists. Ways of Knowing also marks the first major exhibition by Rosario Güiraldes since she joined the Walker as Curator of Visual Arts in 2023. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue that includes an essay by Güiraldes; a roundtable discussion featuring Güiraldes, art historian and critic Claire Bishop, artist Nicolás Guagnini, and curator and historian Cuauhtémoc Medina; as well as generously illustrated entries on each artist. 

“Research has become a fundamental element in certain artistic practices, especially as our world becomes more complicated and our notions of reality less fixed. Ways of Knowing prompts us to consider what happens when artists step into territories of knowledge production traditionally associated with disciplines like anthropology, science, or history, opening new possibilities for how knowledge can be understood, represented, and disseminated through contemporary art,” says Güiraldes. “To create the exhibition, we looked to the practices of artists, allowing for shared strategies to inform and construct the thematic framework. The result is an exhibition rich in ideas, experiences, and expressions that resonate deeply with the current moment.”

Curatorial team: Rosario Güiraldes, Curator, Visual Arts; with Brandon Eng, Curatorial Assistant, Visual Arts.