Celebration of Life and Exhibition Reception
@ National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Opening Sunday, November 9th, from 12PM - 3PM
On view through Sunday, March 1st
Join the Pilsen community on November 9th as we celebrate the life and legacy of artist Ray Patlán. Artist, museum educator, and Patlán’s creative public art partner in FRESCO, Eduardo Pineda, will guide us through a personal recollection of Patlán’s outstanding legacy in a presentation titled “Y Que!: Ray Patlán’s California Murals.” This special program will also include a Curator’s tour and tributes by the community.
About the Exhibition
Hay cultura en nuestra comunidad: : Ray Patlán in Chicago 1968–1975
October 11, 2025 – March 1, 2026
This exhibition is dedicated to artist Ray Patlán (1946–2024), a pivotal figure of the Chicano art movement and the Community Mural Movement. From 1968 to 1975, Patlán emerged as an artistic force and a pioneer in Chicago’s Mexican community, completing ambitious mural projects that captured the life and voices of the people in his neighborhood in response to the social injustices and movements of his time. Through his collaborations, he harnessed the collective power of his community to transform Pilsen and help establish a public art form that continues to thrive in Chicago today. Patlán’s early paintings, drawings, photographs, and personal belongings come together in this first-of-a-kind exploratory exhibition to tell the story of his formative years in Chicago.
Curated by Marcela Andrade Serment
Official Website
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Tags: Celebration of Life, Chicago, Lower West Side, Marcela Andrade Serment, National Museum of Mexican Art, Ray Patlán
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