Artist Ruben Ochoa has returned to the UC Irvine campus with "Class C," a mobile art gallery housed inside a converted 1985 Chevy delivery van. The pop-up exhibition features works by UCI-affiliated artists Sean Duffy, Beatrice von Rague Schleyer, and André Woodward, showcasing contemporary art within a space that mimics a traditional white-cube gallery. The project is presented in coordination with the exhibition "Breakdown/Breakthrough: Art and Infrastructure" at the Langson IMCA.
The activation highlights the intersection of Southern California's car culture, commuting infrastructure, and artistic labor. By repurposing a vehicle once used for his family’s tortilla delivery business, Ochoa challenges traditional notions of institutional art spaces and addresses the specific geographic realities of Orange County. The project serves as both a nostalgic tribute to immigrant entrepreneurialism and a critical commentary on the necessity of public transportation and the physical toll of the daily commute.