Jackson Hole Artist Nani Chacon Selected for 2026 Whitney Biennial

National Spotlight on Local Public Art and Cultural DialogueThe Significance of Chacon’s Jackson Hole Mural

Nani Chacon, the Diné artist whose mural Damma Newadaygwapgay Nasoowazeet (Never Forget Our Language) anchors the east wall of the Jackson Hole History Museum, has been invited to participate in the 2026 Whitney Biennial. Commissioned through a collaboration between Jackson Hole Public Art and History Jackson Hole, the mural functions as a conceptual billboard reclaiming public space for the Eastern Shoshone people, whose ancestors have called the region home for generations. By foregrounding Shoshone language, the work reconnects land, culture, and memory, asserting presence where it has too often been erased. For more on local murals, see this mural graces pathway tunnel.

Overview of the Whitney Biennial

The Whitney Biennial is widely regarded as a bellwether for where American art is headed. The 2026 exhibition will feature 56 artists, duos, and collectives whose work reflects the current moment and explores forms of relationality including cultural lineage, land, language, identity, and shared histories. Chacon’s Jackson mural exemplifies that trajectory, highlighting Jackson Hole’s growing recognition for engaging public space as a place for contemporary, cultural dialogue.

Chacon’s Contribution to Cultural Reclamation

Chacon’s invitation underscores Jackson Hole’s shift from being known primarily for its landscapes to a hub for meaningful public art. Her mural advances themes of cultural reclamation and presence, aligning with the Biennial’s focus on shared histories and identity.

For additional stories on Jackson Hole’s public art scene, explore ten local artists selected for Jackson utility box art project or bear art displayed.

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