Luis Jiménez: The Mythic Southwest

Luis Jiménez: The Mythic Southwest is an immersive exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of iconic Chicano sculptor Luis Jiménez (American, 1940–2006). Known for bold, larger-than-life sculptures that fuse vivid color, dynamic form and incisive social commentary, Jiménez offers a powerful lens on identity, culture and the American experience, particularly that of the Southwest. This exhibition features a selection of Jiménez's sculptures alongside lithographs that illuminate the conceptual foundations of his art.

Central to the exhibition is Border Crossing, a monumental sculpture recently conserved and prominently installed in the University Museums' Art on Campus Collection. In this sculpture, Jiménez captures the intense physical and emotional stakes of migration through his characteristic use of vibrant color, exaggerated gestures and expressive form. Accompanying Border Crossing is a curated group of sculpture maquettes and lithographs that offer a rare glimpse into his creative process, showing how concept became form and underscoring his ability to convey complex narratives through both grand sculptural statements and intimate graphic art.

Together, these sculptures and lithographs invite viewers into the mythic world of Luis Jiménez, a world rooted in cultural hybridity, movement and resistance, and affirm his enduring relevance as a voice of the American Southwest.