An immersive photography exhibition at Casa de América's ABANCA gallery recovers a forgotten chapter of US history. American Latinos 1935–1945 gathers nearly 300 portraits of Hispanic communities across the United States, drawn from the Library of Congress and arriving in Madrid after runs in New York and Lisbon.
What it is
Filmmaker Alberto Ferreras, creator of the HBO documentary series Habla and the video installation Somos for the National Museum of the American Latino, spent three years combing Library of Congress archives to build the show. The result documents Spanish families in New Mexico, Mexican farmworkers in California, Canarian hunters in Louisiana, Puerto Rican farm labourers and Basque shepherds in Idaho and Nevada, all photographed during a pivotal decade in US history.
The portraits come from major names in American social photography, including Dorothea Lange, Jack Delano, Russell Lee, John Collier Jr., Marion Post Wolcott and Arthur Rothstein. Ferreras weaves the images together with music and narration rather than presenting static wall text, building a walk-through experience around the Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information archive.
Why it's worth attending
American Latinos 1935–1945 is part of Casa de América's programme marking 250 years of US independence, and its focus on Hispanic communities gives that anniversary a different angle from the country's usual founding narratives. The exhibition's immersive format, mixing photography with music and narration, sets it apart from a standard photo display, and its run through New York and Lisbon before Madrid points to broader international interest in the material.
Practical info
The exhibition is housed in the Sala Frida Kahlo B, reached via the Calle Marqués del Duero, 2 entrance to the Palacio de Linares rather than the main Cibeles façade. As an immersive format combining audio and narration, it works best without time pressure; the gallery is closed Sundays and public holidays, and Saturday hours are shorter than the rest of the week.
FAQ
What is American Latinos 1935–1945?
American Latinos 1935–1945 is an immersive photography exhibition curated by filmmaker Alberto Ferreras, gathering nearly 300 portraits of Hispanic communities in the US from the Library of Congress. It runs at Casa de América in Madrid from 25 June to 30 September 2026, after previous showings in New York and Lisbon.
Is the exhibition free?
Yes, admission is free, with entry available until the gallery reaches capacity. No booking is required.
What are the opening hours?
Casa de América's gallery opens Monday to Friday from 11:00 to 19:30 and Saturday from 11:00 to 15:00, and is closed Sundays and public holidays.
Where do the photographs come from?
The images come from the US Library of Congress, primarily its Prints and Photographs Division and the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information collection, taken by photographers including Dorothea Lange and Russell Lee.
Who curated the exhibition?
Alberto Ferreras, a filmmaker known for the HBO documentary series Habla and the video installation Somos, spent three years researching the Library of Congress archive to create American Latinos 1935–1945.
