A Message from the Director
Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva la Vida – Voted as One of The 8 best Día de Muertos Celebrations in the US!
From Hollywood Forever’s 26-year tradition to Chicago’s museum-anchored altars, eight Día de Muertos celebrations are worth traveling for, according to Ambia Staley published in Quartz
“Perhaps unsurprisingly, the US ranks among the best places in the world to join in the festivities. During this colorful, multi-day holiday, families create ofrendas, or altars, in their homes, with photos of the deceased, plates of favorite foods, and other treasured objects meant to guide souls home on the night when the boundaries between the spirit world and the living world are said to dissolve. Many cities across the US host colorful, costumed parades, with many participants dressed as the elegant skeleton figure known as La Catrina, while families of Mexican heritage come together and head to cemeteries to clean up family grave sites and leave offerings for lost friends and relatives.
The eight celebrations appear on Lonely Planet and cover the best Día de Muertos celebrations in the US for anyone unable to make it to the famous festivities in Mexico City or Oaxaca. Several of these celebrations trace back decades, from Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s 26-year tradition to Austin’s Viva La Vida Festival, which has run continuously since Mexic-Arte Museum’s founding in 1984, giving each city’s programming depth built through years of community investment rather than a recent addition to the local events calendar. Cultural institutions play an outsized role too, whether that means Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art or Austin’s Mexic-Arte Museum, both of which anchor their city’s celebrations in real art historical scholarship alongside the festivities themselves, giving visitors a real chance to learn something new and truly meaningful as they celebrate….” The article mentions great food in Austin as a great reason to visit but also boosts… ”The city’s Mexic-Arte Museum offers another great reason to visit, particularly during Día de Muertos, when it stages the energetic Viva La Vida Festival.” Enjoy the article here – https://qz.com/best-dia-de-muertos-celebrations-us#the-8-best-da-de-muertos-celebrations-in-the-us-ranked
This year Viva la Vida Festival and Parade will flourish thanks to the generous support from the Texas Commission on the Arts Cultural District Grant Program under the newly state designated 5th St. Mexican American Cultural District and Corridor for Dia de los Muertos – Celebrando Juntos, expanding the reach to thousands more visitors. Since 1989 Mexic-Arte has worked to gain recognition of the contributions of the Mexican American in downtown Austin. Being situated in an official cultural district of Texas will facilitate additional support. Celebrando Juntos includes the exhibition, Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias, the 43rd annual Viva la Vida Festival and Parade, an outdoor mural on the building’s 5th St. façade, and exhibition of the Calaveras de la Calle Cinco outdoor sculpture installation at Republic Square and family day mask-making workshops by artist Dennis McNett and more!
Opening Sept. 11th through Jan. 3, 2027, 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 with art works from the permanent collection and an artist-commissioned installation by Claudia Aparicio and Claudia Zapata.
Mexic-Arte Museum’s spectacular Viva la Vida Festival and Parade is one of Texas’ largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos events. The event provides information about the holiday’s historically religious significance in an expressive commemoration of family and Mexican American life and culture in Austin by mixing modern with traditional materials, and personal with social issues.
The festival’s stage features music and dance performances. Across from the stage, families and children at the Mariposa Plaza Education Pavilion enjoy hands-on art activities designed to share the ofrenda’s symbolism and holiday’s origins. The Muertos Mercado enlivens the celebration with traditional foods, artisan booths, and performances.
Co-presented by the Austin Convention Center and sponsored by the City of Austin, and Downtown Austin Alliance, the Texas Commission on the Arts, Espolon Tequila, Dr. Simi and others. The 2026 Viva la Vida Festival and Parade takes place where the historic Congress Avenue intersects the 5th St. Mexican American Cultural District.
What is Dia de los Muertos?
Dia de los Muertos is a holiday with a historically rich tradition that integrates pre-Columbian and Catholic customs. It is celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2 in connection with the Catholic All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. It is a time to honor and greet the departed as the spirits make their journey back from Mictlan (the underworld) to be with the living each year. These days are a time for families and friends to gather in celebration of life and death. The cycle of life and death, rather than loss and sorrow, is embraced.
For over four decades, the Museum has presented exhibitions, performances, street festivals, videos, murals, installations, processions, publications and other cultural manifestations. During this time, a marvelous transformation has occurred—what was historically a religious holiday has become an expressive commemoration of family and a celebration of life and culture.
Mexic-Arte Museum has encouraged communal sharing of what were once private expressions of faith; and artists started creating altars as part of art exhibits. Mindful of the day’s historical-religious roots, Mexic-Arte Museum helped transform the celebration by mixing popular with traditional materials, sacred with secular objects, personal with social issues, and popular art with contemporary expressions. The underlying Mexican sense of commitment to honor the deceased has remained, but the public expression has evolved into a voice for the Latinx community.
This year’s Dia de los Muertos Viva la Vida Festival and Parade are dedicated to Gil Cardenas, collector, professor, community leader. Mexic-Arte Museum expresses our deepest sympathies to his wife, Dolores Carrillo Garcia and the Cárdenas Family for the loss of our dear friend, Gil Cárdenas
Dr. Cárdenas, “Gil,” impacted hundreds of artists, academics, community members, education and cultural institutions. Originally from California, Gil lived in several cities but chose Austin as his permanent home where he made major contributions. He was one of the earliest supporters of Mexic-Arte and, in 1984, served on the Board of Directors of the newly formed Mexic-Arte at the Arts Warehouse.
Gil and his wife, Dolores Carrillo Garcia, built one of the largest private collections of Latino art in the world. In 2024, they made a major art donation to the Blanton Museum. His contribution leaves a legacy for future generations advancing the promotion, preservation and study of the art of Chicanx and Latinx artists. We will truly miss our friend, Gil.
We invite you to join us on October 24th for the Viva la Vida Festival and Parade. Thank you to all the sponsors, artists, participants, volunteers and visitors who have made this Austin tradition possible for four decades.
Executive Director
Sylvia Orozco
Exhibitions
Mexic-Arte Museum Announces Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias
About the Exhibits from Luisa Fernanda Perez, Curator & Director of Programs
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, publications and ephemera from the United States and 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.
A native of El Paso, Juan Sandoval dedicated much of his life to education, scholarship and the arts. He served as Reference Librarian and Subject Specialist for Art and Chicano Studies at The University of Texas at El Paso, where he supported generations of students and researchers. Beyond the library, Sandoval was an avid collector, mentor and advocate for Latine/x and Chicano/a/x/e artists. His generosity and lifelong commitment to preserving the artistic legacy of the borderlands continue to shape Mexic-Arte Museum’s collection and inspire new audiences to engage with these important works.
September Changarrito, Ana Deisy Campos
2024
About the Artist
Ana Deisy Campos is a Salvadoran-American artist born in California and raised in Dallas, TX. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art from The University of Texas at Austin, minoring in Art History (2025). She draws from her own experiences and retells stories of Salvadoran and Latino culture as a way to combat narratives in US media and as a way to connect with family and self, creating new environments. She has illustrated for the Daily Texan newspaper (2023-2025) and has exhibited at La Peña in Austin, Centro Cultural Aztlan in San Antonio, the Visual Arts Center in Austin, and the Cliff Temple Baptist Church 10th St Gallery in Dallas.
Artist Statement
“I explore the connections between identity and everyday life including how media has shaped the relationship between myself, culture, family, and environment. Often navigating the triangulation between California, Texas, and El Salvador, I aim to retell stories dealing with Salvadoran and Central American culture from the perspective of growing up in the United States, in order to uncover what has been erased, such as the heart, power, and spiritual connection between people and family. These explorations reveal how Latino/a/x identity has been shaped as a result of American media representation, underrepresentation, and generalization. Working predominantly through painting, I recreate moments, experimenting with colors and contrast, to find harmony within a history of woundedness and highlight the heart of day to day living. Using family photos, gathered images, and symbols of culture, such as chickens, I create work that plays with movement and stillness, creating new atmospheres by overlaying images/colors on top of each other to build new narratives, allowing perception to inform the work. Growing up in Texas, I never felt fully included, not understanding where my identity fell. I draw from my own experiences and toggle with what feels tangible and what does not to investigate memory and the loss of it, while still searching for belonging as a means of connecting with myself, family, and the world around me.”
Ana Deisy Campos will be at Mexic-Arte – September 19 & 20 and 26 & 27
August Changarrito, Iliana “YANA” Delgado
Photo by YANA
About the Artist
Iliana Louise “YANA” Delgado is a Mestiza illustrator, painter and ceramicist currently based in San Antonio, Texas. Originally from Buda, Texas, early childhood involvement with community arts, activism and education led her to search for a deeper understanding of her cultural identity. YANA moved to San Antonio shortly after high school to pursue a BFA in ceramics from The University of Texas at San Antonio, focusing her research on pre-colonial mythology. Inspired by art movements like Chicano/a/x civil rights and indigenous futurism, YANA aims to cultivate a community which fosters compassion for the many forms and functions which connect us.
Artist Statement
“Mestizo, derived from the Latin mixticius, was used within the Spanish colonial casta system to denote a person of mixed ancestry. Within this archaic and rigid, race-based hierarchy, I continue to struggle to find grounding while navigating an America that casts me as “Mestiza.” Growing up in a suburb of central Texas, I was often confronted with the disconnect between my cultural origins and the communities in which I was raised. The remedy I have found for this complex and contradictory identity is compassion. As a visual artist, my work is shaped by both my community and my cultural lineage. I focus on Indigenous futurism as a means to question and critique the enduring impacts of colonialism. Through painting, I use the canvas to educate, communicate and illuminate our interconnectedness with the natural world. As a storyteller, I carry forward traditional narratives through illustration, painting and ceramics. My art becomes a tool for cultural healing—both for myself and for others.”
Iliana was at Mexic-Arte Museum on August 15, 16, 22 and 23.
Collections
Highlighted Artworks from Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias
Rebirth, c. 1980-1985
Cartonería
Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2017.39.1
Gift of Paul and Nancy Hutzler
Xipe Totec y El Conquistador, c. 1993
Serigraph on aquarelle moulin
Mexic-Arte Museum Collection 2020.2.123.1
Gift from Juan Antonio Sandoval Jr.
In honor of our upcoming exhibition, Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias, the Mexic-Arte Museum highlights several of the featured artworks.
Rebirth is a papier-mâché sculpture created by Felipe Linares (b. 1936), the son of Pedro Linares, who has built a reputation for animated skeletons, or Alebrijes. The Linares family in Mexico City are among the best known practitioners of a craft known as “cartonería” or the use of papier-mâché to create hard sculptured objects. They have an international reputation for the creation of forms such as skeletons, skulls, Judas figures and fantastical creatures called alebrijes. While the family’s history in the craft can be traced back as far as the 18th century, it was the work of Pedro Linares, who invented the alebrijes, that made the family famous. This life-size painted papier-mâché skeleton is decorated with colorful flowering branches, birds, a snake, animals and insects. This wonderful visual representation is the interconnection of life and death by Mexican tradition, Day of the Dead.
Papier-mâché, or Cartonería, was first introduced into Mexico around the 17th century colonial period, and was originally used to make objects for churches. Since this time period, the craft has developed in central Mexico. Today, these sculptures are generally made for certain yearly celebrations, such as decorative items for Day of the Dead.
Xipe Totec y El Conquistador is a lively serigraph created by Felipe Ehrenberg. The print depicts two skeletons fighting each other against a neon blue and pink background. Felipe Ehrenberg (Mexico City, 1943 – 2017) was an artist, editor, educator, activist, and a prominent figure in the practice of mail art. Ehrenberg received artistic guidance from artists such as Mathias Goeritz and Jose Chávez Morado, and his work was first shown in 1960 at Galeria de la Paz in Mexico. Along with his artistic practice, he was the editor of the Mexico City Times from 1964 to 1967. Following the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre, he relocated his family to the United Kingdom. Ehrenberg—along with his former wife, Martha Hellion—founded Beau Geste Press in 1971. In 1973, he returned to Mexico, and during this time, he became a founding member of the Grupo Proceso Pentágono, the first of several collaborative projects. After the Mexico City earthquake of 1985, he became involved in the reconstruction efforts of the Tepito neighborhood and activism against real estate speculation in the area. Throughout the 1990s, he created several installations that were shown in The University of Texas at Austin, the Bridge Center for Contemporary Art in El Paso, and Carillo Gil Museum in Mexico. He was appointed as Mexico’s cultural attaché to Brazil from 2001 to 2006, and he continued to show his work until he died in 2017.
One can see these artworks and many other wonderful works from now til January 3rd, 2027
Education
Austin Museum Day 2026
Join Mexic-Arte Museum for Austin Museum Day on Sunday, September 20th! We’re one of dozens of museums providing free art activities in this annual celebration of the art, history, culture, and play museums have to offer!
Screenprint stickers and mini-totes to take home while learning about Hispanic Heritage Month! Create a one-of-a-kind item and learn about one of our favorite printmaking methods.
Visitors may also learn about our two exhibits Día de los Muertos: Coleccionando Memorias & Selections from the Collection: Juan Sandoval Jr. We welcome visitors and art enthusiasts of all ages to see and make art with us!
Special thanks to Austin Museum Partnership for facilitating this annual event.
Screen It! in the Schools
Photo Credit: Jasmine Chock
This Fall Semester, we invite you to learn about screen printing and design through Mexic-Arte Museum’s Screen It Program!
Mexic-Arte Museum’s Screen It! program connects students to the Austin art community, guiding them in the development of their art skills as a tool of expression and as valuable entrepreneurial skills.
Screen It! serves children between ages 10 and 17, where we introduce them to the principles of screen printing and related careers in the arts. For younger students, artist educators guide them through basic introduction of screen printing techniques, from the creation of stencils to a final poster design project.
The program encourages participants to express themselves creatively in a safe learning environment while creating meaningful, personalized artwork they can wear proudly (such as T-shirts, reusable shopping bags, and/or posters).
If you’re interested in bringing Screen It! to your school this fall, sign up today!
Programs for the Dove Springs Community are supported by Austin Public Health Community Youth Development. Programs for Title 1 Schools in Travis County are supported by Austin Public Health Office of Violence Prevention.
Nuestro Estilo Summer Camp and Fashion Show
On Sunday, August 9, Mexic-Arte celebrated creativity, culture and community with the Nuestro Estilo Fashion Showcase! Art, fashion and identity came together on the runway. At Nuestro Estilo Camp students spent the week learning about indigenous textile traditions, embroidery, sewing and printmaking at the Austin Central Library. They created beautiful, unique garments taking inspiration from indigenous textile traditions in what is now Mexico, Texas and Guatemala. This video showcases their designs in the annual Nuestro Estilo Fashion Show hosted at Mexic-Arte Museum. So case you missed it, check out the full video now.
Thank you to APH Office of Violence Prevention, Austin Public Library, Institute of Museum and Library Sciences and the Texas Commission on the Arts for supporting this free program!
Join us for a Printmaking Workshop with Dennis McNett, a Collaboration of Print Austin & Mexic-Arte Museum
Join PrintAustin and Mexic-Arte Museum for a free, hands-on mask-making workshop with nationally recognized artist Dennis McNett (Wolfbat). Known for his bold relief prints, intricately carved imagery, masks, puppets, and larger-than-life creatures, McNett transforms printmaking into immersive, communal experiences.
Sunday, Oct 18. 12pm-5pm
Monday, Oct 19 and Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10am-6pm (drop-in available)
Saturday, Oct 24, 12pm Parade starts
You don’t need to commit to all of the workshop time, but you must commit to being part of the parade.
During this special workshop, participants will work with Dennis to create wearable masks inspired by his distinctive prints and the spirit of celebration and collaboration. No previous printmaking or art experience is necessary—just come ready to make! The workshop is free and open to the public, but space is limited. All materials are provided. Donations to support PrintAustin’s artist programs are welcomed.
But the workshop is only the beginning. Participants are to wear their creations and join PrintAustin, McNett, and the community in Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva La Vida Parade (more info below), transforming the artwork from something made in the studio into part of a vibrant public procession.
This program is presented by PrintAustin in partnership with Mexic-Arte Museum, with support from the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division.
43rd Annual Viva La Vida Festival & Parade
Saturday, October 24 12-6PM
Mexic-Arte Museum’s 43rd Annual Viva La Vida Festival and Parade, part of Dia de los Muertos Celebrando Juntos, is Austin’s largest and longest-running Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) event. Presented by the City of Austin Convention Center, this year’s festival will take place on Saturday, October 24, at 4th Street and Congress Avenue. The festivities begin with a Grand Procession at 12 p.m. and activities will run until 6 p.m. Participants can enjoy the Mariposa Plaza with hands-on art activities, traditional foods, local artists, retail booths, a low-rider exhibition, and live performances throughout the day. Please join Mexic-Arte Museum in this free family-friendly cultural celebration!
Community Events y Más
Follow @mexic_arte_edu on Instagram to hear about community art and cultural events for families in Austin. You may be able to screen print with us at some of them! Make sure to check Mexic-Arte Museum Instagram stories.
Development
Bring Your Business to the Viva la Vida Festival & Parade
Connect with over 2,000 participants and 20,000 spectators as a sponsor. Your business will enjoy all of the promotional perks that come with sponsorship. View our sponsorship packet and contact the development coordinator, to explore partnership options.
Participate in the Viva la Vida Parade
Photo Credit: Chris Caselli
Register for Mexic-Arte Museum’s Viva la Vida Parade on October 24, 2026 at noon! Viva la Vida is Austin’s largest and longest-standing celebration of the Day of the Dead every year!
Parade participation is free for community members, non-profits and the general public. Corporations and businesses are asked to give a $500 donation.
*Acceptance into the parade is contingent. Mexic-Arte Museum reserves the right to make the final determination of parade participants. The participants who are accepted into the parade will receive a confirmation email.
If you have any questions please email Amy Anderson at .
Volunteer for the Viva la Vida Festival & Parade– Get a Free T-Shirt!
For 42 years, this event has been made possible with the tremendous help from volunteers just like you! The volunteer team is made up of local organizations, businesses and families. There’s a spot for everyone to get involved. Fill out the form below to sign up for your shift.
Mexic-Arte Museum Store
Thank You Sponsors
A+ Federal Credit Union, Austin Independent School District Creative Classrooms, Austin Lowriding, Austin Saltillo Sister Cities Association, Bettina & Travis Mathis, Bob & Marisa O’Dell, Capital Printing, CG&S Design-Build, Chase Bank, Charlotte Hage Dalbey, City of Austin Capital Services, City of Austin Community Youth Development Program, City of Austin Economic Development, City of Austin Parks & Recreation, City of Austin Public Health Department, City of Austin Special Events, Consulate General of Mexico in Austin, Ed Jordan, Elizabeth Rogers, Endeavor Real Estate Group, Erwin Cuellar, Fenix Post Tension, Inc., Frost Bank, Gloria Moore, Gloria Reyna, Hendler Flores Law, H-E-B, IBC Bank, IBM, Jennifer Hage Bond, Jennifer & Joseph Gatti, Juan & Martha Cotera, Juan J. Gutierrez, La Voz, Lola Wright Foundation, Ann McEldowney, Madelline Mathis, Mark Zuniga, Mellon Foundation, Nettie & M.K. Hage Family, Oncor Global, Patricia Hage Hirsh, Paul Saldaña, Peter M. Baez, Pronto Insurance, Robin Suzanne Hage, Saldaña Public Relations, Serie Print Project, Silcone Labs, Spurs, Thompson Austin, UT Austin Aging & Memory Lab, UFCU