Corazón y Vida: Lowrider Culture in the United States

Lowriding is a quintessential Latino/a tradition started by Mexican American communities in the 1940s to assert their space and empower their lives. This unique car-making tradition is infused with Latino/a soul, entrepreneurship, and ingenuity. A mix of innovation and tradition, lowriding is an affirmation of identity and values that have reached beyond the United States to influence popular culture worldwide.

Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is a new bilingual (English/Spanish) exhibition from the Smithsonian that highlights a diverse selection of vibrant photographs and prints depicting lowrider culture and iconography while documenting its styles in the United States.

This traveling exhibition is based on research from the Smithsonian and includes objects from lowriding art and trade. Audiences encounter a multifaceted picture of the American experience by learning about the Latino/a community identity through the lens of lowriding and its rich stories of creativity, family, and tradition. Lowrider Culture examines the history of the post-World War II Mexican American community and the cultural expressions of lowriding through technology, innovation, and style.

Exhibit Associated Events

To supplement the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, the Farmington Museum will also host four famous New Mexico lowriders and a separate tie-in exhibit featuring local lowrider art and vehicles.

April 25, 2026 - Park and Chill
Celebrate the opening of the exhibit with a Park and Chill featuring local lowriders, a live band, flamenco dancers, a DJ, food, and craft vendors. Check back for details