Introduction
Prospect New Orleans is a citywide contemporary art triennial that was founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by curator Dan Cameron. Conceived as both an artistic platform and a catalyst for cultural and economic recovery, Prospect has grown to become one of the most important recurring exhibitions of international contemporary art in the United States.
Unlike traditional biennials or triennials that are contained within museum walls, Prospect's exhibitions extend throughout New Orleans, activating historic buildings, community centers, parks, and other public spaces across the city's diverse neighborhoods. This distributed model encourages visitors to explore the unique urban fabric of New Orleans while experiencing contemporary art in meaningful conversation with the city's distinct architectural, social, and cultural contexts.
Through each edition, Prospect has consistently engaged with themes that resonate with the complex history and present realities of New Orleans, including resilience and recovery, ecological vulnerability, racial equity, cultural preservation, and the politics of place. While anchored in local concerns, the triennial also connects to broader global conversations about how contemporary art can respond to urgent social, political, and environmental challenges.
Structure & Format
Prospect New Orleans follows a triennial model, with major exhibitions occurring every three years. Each edition is developed by a different artistic director or curatorial team who bring their unique vision while maintaining continuity with the exhibition's core mission and values.
The triennial is organized around a central conceptual framework that provides thematic coherence while allowing for diverse artistic expressions and approaches. Exhibitions typically feature a mix of commissioned site-specific works, existing pieces adapted to New Orleans contexts, performances, and public programs that collectively engage with the city's distinctive spatial, social, and historical landscapes.
A signature aspect of Prospect's structure is its emphasis on partnerships with local cultural institutions, community organizations, and educational entities. These collaborations extend the exhibition's reach and impact while connecting visiting artists and audiences with local knowledge and perspectives. The result is a multi-layered exhibition experience that unfolds across time and space, inviting repeated encounters and deepening engagement with both art and place.
Art & Urban Recovery
The founding of Prospect New Orleans was directly tied to the city's recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Recognizing the vital role that culture plays in urban resilience and revitalization, curator Dan Cameron conceived of the exhibition as a way to support New Orleans' renewal through contemporary art that would bring international attention, visitors, and resources to the city.
This connection between art and urban recovery continues to inform Prospect's mission and programming. The triennial has consistently explored how contemporary art can help communities process trauma, preserve cultural memory, imagine alternative futures, and create new economic opportunities. Through commissions that respond to specific sites and histories, Prospect has participated in ongoing conversations about post-disaster recovery, cultural sustainability, and equitable development.
As New Orleans continues to face challenges related to climate change, gentrification, and social inequality, Prospect remains committed to supporting artistic practices that engage meaningfully with these issues while celebrating the city's extraordinary cultural vitality and resilience.
History & Evolution
The history of Prospect New Orleans reflects both the evolution of a major international art exhibition and the ongoing recovery and transformation of New Orleans itself. From its ambitious beginnings in 2008 to its current position as a mature cultural institution, Prospect has adapted to changing circumstances while maintaining its commitment to artistic excellence and civic engagement.
Each edition of Prospect has responded to different moments in the city's post-Katrina trajectory, from the urgent recovery needs that shaped the inaugural exhibition to more recent concerns about environmental sustainability, cultural equity, and pandemic resilience. Throughout this evolution, Prospect has remained true to its founding vision of contemporary art as a vital contributor to urban renewal and social dialogue.
Prospect.1, the inaugural edition curated by founder Dan Cameron, featured 81 artists from over 30 countries exhibited at 24 venues throughout New Orleans. As the largest biennial of international contemporary art ever organized in the United States at that time, it attracted over 50,000 visitors and generated significant economic impact for the recovering city.
Prospect.1.5 served as a smaller, locally-focused interim exhibition featuring predominantly New Orleans-based artists. This "inside-out" approach highlighted the city's vibrant artistic community while maintaining momentum between major editions.
Prospect.2, again curated by Dan Cameron, presented a more streamlined exhibition with 27 artists from 9 countries. This edition continued to explore New Orleans' relationship to the Caribbean and Global South while expanding the exhibition's geographical range within the city.
Prospect.3: Notes for Now, curated by Franklin Sirmans, featured 58 artists in 18 venues across the city. Organized around themes drawn from Walker Percy's novel "The Moviegoer," this edition emphasized connections between visual art and literature while exploring issues of identity, belonging, and displacement.
Prospect.4: The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp, curated by Trevor Schoonmaker, coincided with New Orleans' tricentennial and featured 73 artists from North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe. This edition emphasized the city's historic connections to the Global South through themes of cultural hybridity, resistance, and adaptation.
Prospect.5: Yesterday we said tomorrow, co-curated by Naima J. Keith and Diana Nawi, responded to the dual crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice movements. Originally scheduled for 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic, this edition featured 51 artists and examined histories of resistance and the visual languages of liberation movements.
Prospect.6, co-curated by Miranda Lash and Ebony G. Patterson, focuses on the relationship between art, environment, and place with particular attention to how artists respond to ecological challenges and community resilience in coastal cities like New Orleans.
Key Venues
Prospect New Orleans transforms the entire city into a gallery, with exhibitions and installations spread across museums, cultural institutions, public spaces, and historic sites. Each edition utilizes a different combination of venues, creating unique pathways through the city and highlighting different neighborhoods and cultural contexts.
Contemporary Arts Center
A multidisciplinary arts space in the Warehouse District that has served as a central hub for Prospect exhibitions since the inaugural edition.
New Orleans Museum of Art
The city's oldest fine arts institution, featuring both interior galleries and the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden for outdoor installations.
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Dedicated to preserving and promoting the art and culture of the American South, providing historical context for contemporary expressions.
Historic Sites
Various historic buildings, former industrial spaces, and architectural landmarks that have been activated as temporary exhibition venues.
Video Introduction
Experience Prospect New Orleans through this video overview featuring highlights from past exhibitions and insights about the triennial's mission and impact.
Artistic Leadership
Each edition of Prospect New Orleans has been shaped by different artistic directors who bring their unique vision and curatorial approach to the triennial. These curators have come from diverse backgrounds but share a commitment to creating international exhibitions that resonate with New Orleans' specific contexts while engaging with broader currents in contemporary art.
Past & Present Artistic Directors
Dan Cameron (Prospect.1 & Prospect.2)
Founder and first artistic director of Prospect New Orleans. Previously served as senior curator at the New Museum in New York and visual arts director at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. Cameron conceived Prospect as a response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the need for cultural rebuilding.
Franklin Sirmans (Prospect.3)
Curated the third edition of Prospect, titled "Notes for Now." At the time, Sirmans was the Terri and Michael Smooke Curator and Department Head of Contemporary Art at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. His edition drew inspiration from literature and explored themes of identity, displacement, and renewal.
Trevor Schoonmaker (Prospect.4)
Artistic director for "The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp," which coincided with New Orleans' tricentennial celebrations. Schoonmaker was Chief Curator and Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher Curator of Contemporary Art at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. His edition emphasized connections between New Orleans and the Global South.
Naima J. Keith & Diana Nawi (Prospect.5)
Co-curators of "Yesterday we said tomorrow," which responded to the dual challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice movements. Keith is Vice President of Education and Public Programs at LACMA, and Nawi is an independent curator. Their edition examined histories of resistance and the visual languages of liberation movements.
Miranda Lash & Ebony G. Patterson (Prospect.6)
Co-curators of the sixth edition, focusing on themes of environment, place, and ecological resilience. Lash is the Ellen Bruss Senior Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and Patterson is a Jamaica-born artist known for mixed media installations that examine culture, gender, and class.
Exhibition Gallery
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Venue Locations
Prospect New Orleans takes place at multiple venues throughout the city, with exhibitions and installations spanning museums, cultural institutions, and public spaces. Here's a map of key locations from recent editions.