Opening Reception of Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias and Selections from the Collection: Juan Sandoval Jr.

The Mexic-Arte Museum invites you to the opening reception for the Fall 2026 Exhibits – Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias and Selections from the Collection: Juan Sandoval Jr.

About the Exhibits

Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias – Rooted in Indigenous traditions and shaped by centuries of cultural exchange, Día de los Muertos is a celebration of life, memory, and the enduring bonds between the living and those who came before us. During this celebration, traditionally observed on November 1 and 2nd, families prepare ofrendas with cempasúchil (marigolds), candles, photographs, favorite foods, and personal belongings to honor and welcome the return of our loved ones. These traditions and celebrations express remembrance through objects that carry memory across generations. As carriers of energy, humanity, and tradition, these objects embody the stories, values, and lived experiences of the people who cherished them. By collecting and preserving such objects, museums help safeguard not only works of art but also the cultural knowledge, histories, and human connections they carry, ensuring they remain accessible to future generations.

While an ofrenda preserves the memory of an individual, a museum collection preserves the stories of communities. Every artwork, print, sculpture, and object in the Mexic-Arte Museum Permanent Collection reflects the people, places, and traditions that shaped it. Together, these works document not only artistic expression but also the movement of cultural practices as they travel with individuals, families, and communities across borders. Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias reflects on the Mexic-Arte Museum’s decades of collecting, preserving, and sharing the artistic traditions that surround this celebration.

The pieces in this exhibition made their way to Austin, and through diverse programming such as exhibitions and educational activities, they became integrated into the city’s cultural landscape. From José Guadalupe Posada’s iconic calavera prints to the vibrant cartonería of the Linares family and the work of contemporary artists such as Claudia Zapata and Claudia Aparicio, the works in this exhibition highlight the many ways artists have expressed remembrance, identity, and celebration across generations. By preserving these works, Mexic-Arte Museum documents not only the evolution of artistic traditions but also the cultural exchange that continues to shape Austin today. 

Selections from the Collection: Juan Sandoval Jr. – In early 2020, Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr. (1946–2021) donated his extraordinary collection to Mexic-Arte Museum, transforming the Museum’s permanent collection and creating one of its most significant acquisitions to date. Built over more than three decades, the Sandoval Collection comprises over 1,500 works by Latine/x artists, including prints, photographs, paintings, sculptures, popular art, publications, and ephemera from the U.S. Mexico borderlands and beyond. This remarkable gift has greatly expanded the Museum’s ability to preserve, research, and share the artistic and cultural histories of varied regions, ensuring that these works remain accessible to the public for generations to come.

Museums often celebrate the artists whose works they exhibit, while the stories of the collectors and donors who preserve these works remain largely untold. Yet, collectors play a vital role in safeguarding cultural heritage, recognizing the importance of artists and artworks long before they enter museum collections. This exhibition highlights a selection of two-dimensional works from the Sandoval Collection, featuring photographs, prints, drawings, and other works on paper and canvas. Alongside these artworks are photographs and illustrations of Juan Sandoval, offering visitors a glimpse into the life of the collector whose vision, curiosity, and dedication made this remarkable collection possible.