The Facts
On September 9, 2026, the Getty Foundation announced a multinational traveling research seminar, "The Amazon Basin as Connecting Borderland," supported by its Connecting Art Histories initiative. The seminar brought scholars from various disciplines—including art history, archaeology, and anthropology—to remote Indigenous communities in Ecuador, Colombia, and Brazil. Participants traveled by bus, jeep, and boat to villages such as Sarayaku, Ecuador, where they learned from Kichwa artisans about traditional pottery, natural dyes, and political activism. The project aimed to elevate Indigenous perspectives and foster collaborative, inclusive approaches to studying Amazonian art, moving beyond traditional colonial frameworks.
The Signal
The seminar reflects a broader shift in art history toward community-engaged, interdisciplinary research that centers Indigenous knowledge. By immersing scholars in hands-on workshops and direct dialogue with communities, the initiative challenges conventional museum practices and academic hierarchies. Participants have already applied these lessons, with some co-curating exhibitions alongside Indigenous collaborators, as seen in recent shows at the Americas Society in New York and the National Museum of Ecuador. This model of co-authorship and ethical collaboration signals a growing institutional commitment to decolonizing art historical practice and supporting Indigenous agency in cultural representation.
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- People: Miguel de Baca, Maria Berbara, Carmen Fernández-Salvador, Patricia Zalamea, Alejandro Garay Celeita, Diana Iturralde
- Museums: Getty Foundation, Museu Etnográfico Magütá de Mocagua, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, National Museum of Ecuador, Americas Society
- Locations: Amazon basin, Sarayaku, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Belém, Puyo, Leticia, New York
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