Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos
Lowriding is a quintessential Latino/a tradition started by Mexican American communities in the 1940s to assert their space and empower their lives. This unique car-making tradition is infused with Latino/a soul, entrepreneurship, and ingenuity. A mix of innovation and tradition, lowriding is an affirmation of identity and values that have reached beyond the United States to influence popular culture worldwide.
Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is a new exhibition from the Smithsonian that highlights a diverse selection of vibrant photographs and prints depicting lowrider culture and iconography while documenting its styles in the United States.
This traveling exhibition is based on research from the Smithsonian and includes objects from lowriding art and trade. Audiences encounter a multifaceted picture of the American experience by learning about the Latino/a community identity through the lens of lowriding and its rich stories of creativity, family, and tradition. Lowrider Culture examines the history of the post-World War II Mexican American community and the cultural expressions of lowriding through technology, innovation, and style.
The national tour of Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos launched in September 2025 and will continue through July 2029.
How Lowrider Culture Turned Custom Cars Into Colorful, Stunning Works of Art (Smithsonian Magazine, Sep. 26, 2025)
Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of the American Latino. The exhibition received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino.
Upcoming Stops
- Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is a new exhibition from the Smithsonian that highlights a diverse selection of vibrant photographs and prints depicting lowrider culture and iconography while . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.McAllen, TX–
- Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is a new exhibition from the Smithsonian that highlights a diverse selection of vibrant photographs and prints depicting lowrider culture and iconography while . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.Tucson, AZ–
- Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is a new exhibition from the Smithsonian that highlights a diverse selection of vibrant photographs and prints depicting lowrider culture and iconography while . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.Fresno, CA–
- Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is a new exhibition from the Smithsonian that highlights a diverse selection of vibrant photographs and prints depicting lowrider culture and iconography while . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.Overland Park, KS–
- Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en los Estados Unidos is a new exhibition from the Smithsonian that highlights a diverse selection of vibrant photographs and prints depicting lowrider culture and iconography while . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.Scottsdale, AZ–
