Image: Nevada Museum of Art, Reno
Ernesto Neto’s immersive installation ‘Children of the Earth’ will close on September 20 at the Nevada Museum of Art in Reno, marking the final days of a presentation that invites visitors to move through and activate a room-sized environment inspired by the Amazon rainforest.
On view from November 15, 2025, the installation is presented in the museum’s Thomas Lee Bottom Gallery on the second floor. The Nevada Museum of Art lists the work’s exhibition dates as running through September 20, 2026. The museum is located at 160 West Liberty Street in Reno.
Created in 2019, ‘Children of the Earth’ pays homage to the Amazon rainforest while emphasizing what the museum describes as the fecundity of the natural world more broadly. Its cocoon-like structure transforms the gallery into an environment that visitors are encouraged to explore and interact with rather than simply view from a distance.
The installation incorporates a wide range of materials and objects, including cotton voile crochet, cotton fabric, cotton voile curtains, a futon, ceramic, polyamide stockings, crystals and stones, herbs and spices, musical instruments, seed pods, leaves and terra-cotta pots. The work is listed as dimensions variable, reflecting its occupation of the gallery as an enveloping spatial installation.
According to the museum’s description, visitors encounter a vibrant and sensual setting upon crossing the gallery threshold. The installation is designed to be activated by guests, with its tactile and multisensory elements creating an experience that extends beyond conventional gallery spectatorship. The presentation is credited to the artist and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York.
‘Children of the Earth’ forms part of the Nevada Museum of Art’s larger exhibition ‘INTO THE TIME HORIZON,’ which remains on view through January 3, 2027. The museum’s calendar separately lists ‘INTO THE TIME HORIZON: 101 Songs for the Environment’ through November 29, 2026. Neto’s installation itself, however, has a closing date of September 20, after which it will no longer be on view at the Reno museum.
