‘Soy de Tejas’ comes to California
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum (“The Cheech”) presents “Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art,” October 4, 2025 through January 11, 2026. Curated by Rigoberto Luna, the exhibition marks the first time Soy de Tejas has been displayed at a museum and its first presentation outside of Texas.
Featuring more than 100 artworks across painting, sculpture, photography, fiber, video and installation, the exhibition showcases 39 contemporary Latinx artists who were born in or are based in Texas. Together, their works explore migration, family, labor, indigeneity, gender, and mythmaking while also celebrating humor, love, resilience, and the joy of everyday life.
“’Soy de Tejas’ is both a survey and a reunion,” said Luna. “The exhibition brings together artists whose individual practices speak to distinct experiences, yet collectively affirm the depth, diversity, and unity of Latinx life in Texas and beyond. To present this show at The Cheech is especially significant—it’s like bringing family together across borders. Our hope is that the stories within Soy de Tejas resonate with the communities of Riverside and beyond, reminding us that, despite man-made boundaries, we can recognize ourselves in one another and find common ground in our shared experiences.”
For the artists, the California presentation offers an opportunity to share unique histories, personal narratives, and cultural perspectives from a distinct U.S. region with new audiences—fostering dialogue between Texas and California, two states deeply rooted in Latinx history and culture.
“Hosting Soy de Tejas at The Cheech underscores our mission to present exhibitions that reflect the breadth of Chicano and Latinx art,” said Patricia Reynolds, President, Riverside Art Museum Board of Trustees. “This presentation connects Texas and California—two regions with deep Latinx roots—while also highlighting how our communities’ stories contribute to the evolving narrative of American art. We are proud to welcome these artists and their work to Riverside.”
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Rigoberto Luna is an independent curator and cultural producer born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He is the co-founder of Presa House Gallery, an artist-run project space established in 2016 that presents innovative exhibitions by emerging and mid-career artists, with a curatorial emphasis on Latinx and underrepresented communities across Texas and the U.S. Southwest.
In 2025, as a Cohort 06 Curatorial Fellow at NXTHVN, Luna curated “All At Once: Reflected Through Glass” in New Haven, Connecticut, and “The Things Left Unsaid” at James Cohan Gallery in New York City. Following his fellowship, he organized “Ya Hecho: Readymade in the Borderlands” at the Tucson Museum of Art (July 3–November 30, 2025).
Luna also curated “Soy de Tejas: A Statewide Survey of Latinx Art,” a landmark exhibition that debuted at Centro de Artes in San Antonio (2023), traveled to Arts Fort Worth (2024), and now comes to The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum (2025). While conceptually “Soy de Tejas” has remained consistent, Luna has adapted each presentation to fit the specific needs of its host community and gallery space. This flexibility has allowed for the inclusion of new works that respond to evolving current events, with each venue also premiering original pieces created especially for its iteration.
ABOUT RIVERSIDE ART MUSEUM AND THE CHEECH MARIN CENTER FOR CHICANO ART & CULTURE
Riverside Art Museum and The Cheech are dedicated to ensuring accessibility for all through a range of free, reduced-cost, and general admission ticket options. Details at www.riversideartmuseum.org/visit/plan-your-visit
Housed in a 1929 Julia Morgan-designed building at 3425 Mission Inn Avenue.—a registered historic landmark—RAM welcomes thousands annually for exhibitions, classes, and events.
Opened in 2022, The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture is the nation’s first center dedicated to Chicana/o/x art. Located in Riverside’s former public library at 3581 Mission Inn Ave., it houses the Cheech Marin Collection and presents exhibitions, programs, and scholarship exploring the legacy and evolution of Chicano art. Visit www.thecheechcenter.org.
