The installation, titled My Assimilated Refrigerator, examines the long-term impact of federal assimilation policies on Native American identity, cultural continuity, and connections to ancestral homelands.
According to organizers, the exhibit draws from Wall’s personal experiences growing up between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultural worlds. Through the work, Wall explores themes of identity, belonging, and the lingering effects of policies such as boarding schools, relocation programs, and blood quantum requirements.
“Art becomes an act of resistance against the forces of assimilation,” Wall said in a statement.
Museum and city officials say the installation highlights how Native artists continue to blend traditional techniques with contemporary forms of expression while addressing modern issues facing Indigenous communities.
An artist talk featuring Kathleen Wall is scheduled for Nov. 20 at 4:30 p.m., followed by a public reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The exhibition will remain on view through Dec. 24.
City of Albuquerque officials say the installation is part of ongoing efforts to bring art into public spaces and foster community conversation through cultural programming.
Gallery One and the Art Vault are located on the first floor of City Hall at 1 Civic Plaza NW and are open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding city holidays.
