The Chicano movement in Southern California, born out of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, gave rise to art, murals, west coast handstyle graffiti, tattoos, and literary works along with lowrider culture and fashion as forms of self identification and cultural pride in the midst of oppression and segregation. This unique style has spread to many countries but in Los Angeles it has faced persistent attacks whether in the form of criminalization or steep fines placed on unsanctioned murals. This has created an erasure of the cultural markers that speak most clearly in opposition to systemic racism. There is a heightened urgency to preserve and document this work in the midst of rapid gentrification. This exhibition brings together artists that not only continue to use Chicano aesthetics but also uphold the use of art as a means of challenging dominant narratives.
Participating Artist:
Residency Art Gallery
310 E. Queen St.
Inglewood, CA
Image Credit: Miles “El Mac” MacGregor, Purgatory.
