Steve McQueen's '66–76–26' at Guggenheim Bilbao: A Cappella Dialogue Between Nina Simone and David Bowie

Steve McQueen's new installation '66–76–26' opens at the Museo Guggenheim Bilbao on October 9, 2026, and runs through February 21, 2027. Curated by Lekha Hileman, the work strips the 1957 song 'Wild is the Wind'—composed by Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington for the film of the same name—to its vocal essence, presenting a cappella versions by Nina Simone and David Bowie in a darkened gallery. The title refers to the years each artist recorded the song: Simone in the 1960s and Bowie in the 1970s, with 2026 marking McQueen's reinterpretation. The voices emanate from opposite sides of the room, creating a dialogue that transcends time and engages with Frank Gehry's architecture. McQueen first encountered Bowie's version in the 1990s, then Simone's, and has long been drawn to the song's emotional density. He previously used the composition in his 2018 film 'Widows.' The installation continues his exploration of sound, light, and perception as primary materials, following works like 'Bass' (2024), 'Atlas' (2026), and 'Untitled' (2025). The piece emphasizes silence, breaths, and the passage of time, inspired by Miles Davis's use of space between notes. The Guggenheim will accompany the exhibition with a film cycle dedicated to McQueen's cinematic work, including '12 Years a Slave,' 'Shame,' and 'Blitz,' highlighting the connections between his filmmaking and visual art. The project reflects on memory and art's capacity to generate reflection and encounter.