ABQ Times

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has added the work of Chris Cornelius, chair and professor of Architecture at the University of New Mexico, to its prestigious Architecture and Design permanent collection. This acquisition includes three drawings from Cornelius' Radio Free Alcatraz project (2014) and a model titled "Bear" from his 2009 series "Bending Out of Course."

Cornelius' work will be part of the exhibition Down to Earth, which opened on November 22, 2024. The exhibition aims to demonstrate “how the built environment design can help foster resilient communities, mitigate the devastating impacts of the climate crisis, and re-establish connections between human and nonhuman life.”

Robert González, Dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, remarked on Cornelius' significance: “As the first Indigenous person trained as an architect to be in the Architecture and Design collection, Chris Cornelius is a central voice of a new generation of designers in the built environment disciplines who are helping us to reframe our relationship with the land through an Indigenous lens.” He added that having Cornelius lead their architecture program positions them well for this important reframing.

MoMA is known for connecting people globally with contemporary art. It aims to serve as a catalyst for experimentation, learning, creativity, and as a gathering place for artists and their ideas.

For more information about MoMA's history and mission, visit their website.