09/09/2026
Join us on opening night on Friday, September 25th, and be among the first to see Where Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Mu***os. This year, as we reflect on four decades of collecting, preserving, and celebrating Mexican art and culture, the exhibition looks back through the Permanent Collection to trace the evolution of Day of the Dead and the museum itself. Just as Day of the Dead keeps the memories of loved ones alive, the museum preserves memory through art. This year's exhibition honors Dr. Gilberto Cárdenas (1947-2026), a scholar, pioneer of Chicano Studies, and a friend of the Museum. Gilberto believed in art's power to honor Mexican, Chicana/o, and Latinx histories and voices. His vision shaped our Permanent Collection, and his legacy endures through the art and memories we preserve. We look forward to seeing you.
Image details: Olga Costa, Ofrenda de mu***os (Altar of the Dead), 1965-1967, oil on linen / óleo sobre lino, NMMA Permanent Collection
Michael Roman, Taquería (Taco Stand),1988-89, oil and silkscreen collage on canvas / óleo y collage serigrafiado sobre lienzo, NMMA Permanent Collection, Gift of Dick and Holly Altman
Alfredo Zalce, Descanso (Resting), 1979, etching and aquatint / aguatinta y aguafuerte, 32/60, NMMA Permanent Collection, Gift of the artist
