Corazón y vida: Lowrider Culture

Lowriding culture combines artistic expression, technological innovations, and storytelling that reflects Mexican American and Chicano culture and identity. This vibrant, bilingual exhibition showcases this unique car-making tradition with photos, graphics, and two classic cars. Following WWII, the U.S. embraced car culture as a symbol of the American dream. In Mexican American communities, lowrider cars became a source of pride and a way of creating community in an era with wide-spread discrimination and racism towards Latinas/os.

Corazón y vida tells the 80-year history of lowriding and community building through photographs, posters, objects such as a pinstripe tool kit, car club clothing, trophies, and other materials. The exhibition draws from the Smithsonian’s collection of newly acquired photos and posters from Latina/o photographers. Along with objects that tell the history of lowriding, two classic Chevy Impalas will be on loan and featured at the heart of the exhibition: “El Rey” and “Gypsy Rose.” Featuring murals and candy red paint, the 1963 vehicle “El Rey” was built by three generations of the same family. With its hand-painted roses, the 1964 “Gypsy Rose,” is recognized as one of the most iconic lowriders and credited with putting the car culture into the public imagination. Today, lowrider culture has extended across the U.S. and beyond, to influence popular culture worldwide.