Ana Mendieta's Iowa Roots Take Center Stage in New Tate Exhibition

Ana Mendieta, the Cuban-born artist who spent her teenage years in Iowa's foster care system, is finally getting the global recognition she deserves. A major new exhibition at London's Tate Modern, opening July 15, 2026, will showcase her groundbreaking work — including pieces never before seen in the United Kingdom. For Iowans, the story hits close to home: Mendieta's art was forged in the heartland, shaped by the displacement and resilience she experienced here.

Mendieta once said, 'My art comes out of rage and displacement.' That rage, born from being torn from her homeland and placed in an Iowa orphanage, fueled a body of work that would redefine feminist art. The Tate exhibition, curated by Valentine U