The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture in Riverside has opened its annual summer exhibition, “We the People: Chicano Art in the USA,” featuring 126 works by 61 artists. Curated by Benito Huerta, the show draws primarily from the 550 artworks donated by actor and comedian Cheech Marin to the museum’s permanent collection, with many pieces on view for the first time in Riverside. The exhibition runs through May 2026 and replaces the previous “Cheech Collects” series, which will return in 2027 for the museum’s fifth anniversary.
The exhibition’s title, a direct quote from the U.S. Constitution’s preamble, is a deliberate response to the America 250 celebrations, asserting that “We the People” includes all Americans, particularly Chicanos. Curator Huerta aimed to showcase the diversity of Chicano life—from everyday scenes like a backyard barbecue to politically charged works addressing immigration and police encounters—demonstrating that Chicano art is both universal and urgently relevant. The show underscores the Cheech’s role as a vital cultural institution amplifying underrepresented voices in American art.