TIERRA FUTURA

TIERRA FUTURA: Boricua Land Futures, a solo exhibition of artist Shey Rivera Ríos and group exhibition of 22 artists from Borikén and its diasporas.

On view March 5-29, 2025 | Artist Talk: Thurs March 5, 5-6pm | Opening Reception: Thurs March 5, 6-9pm

WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley Street, Providence, RI

Tierra Futura brings together Boricua (Puerto Rican) artists from the archipelago of Borikén and its diasporas across the U.S. whose practices imagine, remember, and materialize Boricua futurity rooted in ancestral knowledge and cultural sovereignty. These works contain stories of land-based memory, Boricua rural identity, eco-feminisms, relationship between body and land, queer Boricua joy, cultural rituals, and tributes to significant artistic, political, and familial ancestors. Many of the artists are also founders and leaders of alternative art spaces, land sovereignty projects, and other cultural initiatives that restore and nourish culture and connection to ancestral practices. TIERRA FUTURA is cultural ritual that becomes art practice, and invites us to contemplate what it means to build abundant diasporic futures. 

Artists: Shey Rivera Ríos, Adaira Rojas Santana (with collaborator Edalys González Clemente), Angélica Rivera Reyes, Anabel Vázquez Rodríguez, Brenda Torres-Figueroa, Cándida González, Colectivo Moriviví, Damaris Cruz, Elisa Dore, Grechel Rosado, Jo Cosme, Lares Feliciano, Leenda Bonilla, Lilliam Nieves, Linda Fernández, Lydia Pérez Nieves, Mariana Ramos Ortiz, Michelle Falcón Fontánez, Rosa Colón, Santi Pérez García, Yolanda Velázquez-Vélez, Vero Rivera

Curated by: Shey Rivera Ríos, Studio Loba. With Co-Curatorial and Logistics Team: Anabel Vázquez Rodríguez and Ruchika Nambiar. 

Supported by: Interlace Project Fund & the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts, RISD SPUR Fund, iolabs, Providence Picture Frame Company, WaterFire Arts Center, Arte Latino New England, and Puerto Rican Institute for Arts and Advocacy.  

Schedule of Events

Artist Talk & Opening Reception
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | Artist Talk at 5:00–6:00 p.m. and Opening Reception at 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Join us for a special artist reception celebrating TIERRA FUTURA. This informal gathering offers an opportunity to experience the exhibition, connect with fellow supporters, and learn more about the works on view.

Gallery Night Providence
Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 6:00–9:00 p.m.

Jump on a trolley from the WaterFire Arts Center, explore multiple local partner galleries and then return back to the WFAC to check out TIERRA FUTURA. Check back for more information about how to secure your spot on the trolley.

PechaKucha Night
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 7:20–10:00 p.m.

Laugh, learn, and get inspired by a mix of people from Providence as they share their ideas, stories, and creations using the PechaKucha format of 20 images that last 20 seconds each. Named best event in Rhode Island by RI Monthly! During this month’s gathering, Shey Rivera Ríos will be presenting in the PechaKucha format. Learn More>>

TIERRA FUTURA Workshop & Cafecito
Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. –1:00 p.m.

Join us for a special presentation and workshop to learn about Boricua Land Futures, the role of artists in narratives of resistance, and the power of annotated storytelling.

Closing & Performance
Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 3:00–5:00 p.m.

The final gathering of this incredible show, with a performance and cultural ritual to honor the role of artists and communities into the future we must build together.