Sonja John: Balikbayan
October 18, 2026 - January 24, 2027The Pollack Family Learning Center transforms throughout the year with new installations, projects, and materials that extend and deepen the gallery experience.
Balikbayan is a site-specific installation created for the Katonah Museum of Art by artist Sonja John. In her practice, John combines elements from her surroundings in New York City with recollections of her family’s places of origin; Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Philippines. Using collage, stencils, and light, John investigates the tensions between constructed spaces and botanical forms to explore fictions of the Caribbean built from history, memory, and family archives. This installation celebrates the ingenuity of immigrant resourcefulness, reflecting the ways in which migration, the environment, agricultural practices, and cultural identity can shape our understanding of place.
Visitors are invited to experience Balikbayan, experiment with a range of mixed-media art projects, and interact with a collaborative light installation.