If you enjoy seeing creativity expressed in unexpected ways, the Farmington Museum has a spring experience you will not want to miss. From April 25 through July 25, the Smithsonian traveling exhibition Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos will be on display, offering an in-depth look at the artistry, history, and community behind lowrider vehicles. This exhibit goes beyond cars as transportation to explore a cultural tradition that combines craftsmanship, innovation, and personal expression.
About the Exhibit
Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos explores a unique car-making tradition infused with Latino/a soul, entrepreneurship, and ingenuity. Presented in both English and Spanish, the exhibition features vibrant photographs highlighting the artistic expression, history, and tradition of lowriding in the United States.
Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Museum of American History, the exhibit received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino. Visitors will find themselves drawn in by the visuals alone, including photographs of classic cars, bold paint jobs, intricate pinstriping, and the people who have dedicated their lives to perfecting this craft. Each car and display represents countless hours of work, ingenuity, and pride, creating a living portrait of a cultural tradition that has grown from local communities to influence popular culture nationwide.
More Than Cars
At its heart, this exhibition is about expression. Lowriding began in Mexican American communities in the 1940s as a way to assert identity, share creativity, and celebrate community. Over the decades, it has evolved into a cultural tradition that blends art, innovation, and personal storytelling.
Inside the exhibit, visitors can explore photographs, prints, and displays that highlight the details and people behind lowriding across the country. The exhibition connects past and present, showing how the movement has evolved while staying true to its roots. You do not need to be a car enthusiast to appreciate it. The craftsmanship, artistry, and stories are compelling on their own, and the exhibit invites visitors to look closely and take their time discovering the layers of culture behind each vehicle.
A Strong Connection to New Mexico
Though lowriding is celebrated across the United States, it has a particularly strong presence in New Mexico. Communities across the state have contributed to its development and identity, making this exhibit especially meaningful in Farmington. Bringing the exhibition to this city gives visitors a chance to see the rich cultural fabric of New Mexico reflected in cars and artwork and to experience a tradition that resonates far beyond the museum walls.
Museum Director Nathan Augustine emphasized that lowriders are more than just vehicles. He described them as works of art shaped by the people who build them. That craftsmanship and personal expression are apparent throughout the exhibition, giving visitors a sense of the dedication and creativity required to bring each lowrider to life.
Local Lowriders on Display
In addition to the Smithsonian exhibition, the museum will feature four well-known New Mexico lowriders, each with its own story.
Mike Roybal’s 1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme reflects a New Mexico theme, complete with a mirrored dash and plush velvet upholstery. Johnny Jamarillo’s 1995 Dodge Ram, known as DeDe’s Golden Ram, was built by his late mother and includes a tilt bed and removable roof. Arthur Lowlow Medina’s 1976 Cadillac, featured in the Smithsonian exhibit, is covered in murals with Catholic imagery, combining vehicle design with storytelling.
Rounding out the collection are three motorcycles. Mike Lopez’s 2008 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe is decorated with Day of the Dead themed artwork. A 2006 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe, named Shapeshifter, was built with a Native American theme. The builder restored the bike from a barn find and completed the mechanical work and assembly locally. A 2012 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe was built by DeDe Jaramillo in a white blinged-out Vicla style. Each of these vehicles reflects hours of meticulous work and a strong sense of pride, inviting visitors to experience them up close and appreciate the artistry involved.
Lowrider Art: A Sister Exhibit
Complementing the full-size vehicles is the Lowrider Art sister exhibit. This display includes paintings, pinstriping, photographs, bicycles, and miniature lowrider cars, showcasing the range of creativity within lowrider culture. Together with the full-size cars and motorcycles, it gives visitors a broader perspective on how art, innovation, and community converge in this tradition.
Kicking Things Off and Programming Opportunities
The exhibit opens on April 25 with a Park and Chill event at the museum. Visitors can enjoy local lowriders, live music, flamenco dancers, a DJ, and vendors in a relaxed atmosphere. Throughout the exhibition, the museum will also offer programming opportunities, including workshops, demonstrations, and other activities that explore lowrider art, design, and culture. These programs give visitors a chance to engage directly with the creative processes behind lowriding.
Why It Is Worth a Visit
What makes this exhibition particularly compelling for visitors is its accessibility. You do not need to be a car expert to be captivated by the artistry and history on display. Each vehicle tells a story, and the exhibition’s combination of full-size vehicles, motorcycles, and artwork creates a layered, immersive experience.
Lowriders are more than transportation. They are canvases, cultural artifacts, and expressions of identity. The level of detail, the time invested, and the personal meaning behind each build all come together to create a vivid, memorable experience.
For visitors to Farmington, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to connect with New Mexico’s cultural traditions in a tangible, visually striking way. It is also a reminder that art can take many forms, sometimes sitting on four wheels, sometimes on two, and sometimes in miniature.
If you are looking for something different to do this spring or summer, Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos at the Farmington Museum is a must- see. Take your time with the cars and artwork, explore the sister exhibit, and enjoy the programming opportunities. You will leave with a new appreciation for the creativity, skill, and stories that define lowrider culture.
For more information, visit farmingtonnm.org/events/lowrider-culture-in-the-united-states.