Laura Aguilar: Day of the Dead

Drawn from recent acquisitions from Laura Aguilar's estate, "Laura Aguilar: Day of the Dead" presents photographs made from 1984 to 1992 documenting Día de los Muertos celebrations in Los Angeles. Raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Laura Aguilar created a range of distinctive photographs during the 1980s through the early 2000s that reflect her Chicana, queer identity and the experiences of her friends in the LGBTQ communities. Ranging from public celebrations to staged Día de los Muertos scenes inside homes, the photographs in Aguilar's _Day of the Dead_ series embrace Mexican American culture and reveal a connected artistic community in Los Angeles. An ofrenda (altar) dedicated to Aguilar anchors the exhibition. Designed by Sybil Venegas and Christopher Velasco, co-trustees of the Laura Aguilar estate, the installation reflects an integral Día de los Muertos tradition of honoring ancestors. The ofrenda's elements relate to Aguilar's connections to the land, community, family, and photography.