Laura Aguilar’s Photographs of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Go on View at The Huntington

Key Takeaways  

• On view from Sept. 20, 2026, through March 1, 2027, “Laura Aguilar: Day of the Dead” is the second in a two-part exhibition series and follows “Laura Aguilar: Body and Landscape.” 
• The Huntington Library holds 21 photographs from Aguilar’s Day of the Dead series—the largest collection of works from the series at a single institution—and the exhibition draws from these recent acquisitions. 
• An ofrenda (altar) dedicated to Aguilar and designed by Sybil Venegas and Christopher Velasco, co-trustees of the Laura Aguilar estate, anchors the exhibition with objects tied to the artist’s life and practice, and to her intimate relationship with the land. 
• The Huntington is a major repository for Laura Aguilar’s work, with over 100 photographs by the artist among its holdings. 

Opening Sept. 20 in the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art, “Laura Aguilar: Day of the Dead” presents photographs from a lesser-known series created during the 1980s and 1990s by pioneering Los Angeles artist Laura Aguilar (1959–2018). On view through March 1, 2027, the exhibition documents Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations in homes and at public events in Los Angeles.  

The exhibition follows “Laura Aguilar: Body and Landscape,” which closed Sept. 7 and traced her groundbreaking use of self-portraiture in the natural environments of Southern California and the Southwest. Together, the exhibitions move from Aguilar’s own body in the landscape to the people, traditions, and creative relationships that shaped her life and legacy. 

The Huntington Library’s acquisition of the 21 Day of the Dead photographs from the Laura Aguilar Trust of 2016 was made possible with financial support from The Ahmanson Foundation and a gift in kind from the trust. The photographs, which constitute the largest collection of Aguilar’s Day of the Dead series at a single institution, portray artists, couples, families, and friends in moments of celebration, remembrance, and connection. 

From 1984 to 1992, Aguilar documented Día de los Muertos gatherings throughout the city that were organized by the community arts center Self Help Graphics & Art. Aguilar also participated in the Los Angeles Photography Center’s annual Día de los Muertos event, which included shows with local Chicana/o/x artists. The Huntington’s exhibition features photographs taken by Aguilar at the center’s 1989 celebration that depict many of the city’s most renowned artistic figures, including Barbara Carrasco, Harry Gamboa Jr., and Ricardo Valverde. Many of these portraits show individuals or groups posed inside a prop coffin that Aguilar had constructed with a Mexican mural backdrop; the setup resembles a photo booth.    

“These uniquely composed photographs demonstrate the extraordinary range of Aguilar’s artistic and documentary practice in Southern California,” said Linde B. Lehtinen, the Philip D. Nathanson Senior Curator of Photography at The Huntington. “The portraits convey different forms of pride, playfulness, and intimacy that embrace Mexican American culture and reflect Aguilar’s own exploration of family roots and her Chicana lesbian identity.”

For press inquiries or to request high-resolution press images, email huntingtonnews@huntington.org. 

About The Huntington 

The Huntington, a world-renowned cultural and educational institution, provides transformative experiences for a community of the curious. Founded in 1919 by Henry E. and Arabella Huntington, it supports research and promotes public engagement through its expansive library, art, and botanical collections. By cultivating dynamic scholarship, creating innovative programs for students and lifelong learners, and sharing its extraordinary resources, The Huntington invites all on a journey of discovery, insight, and connection. Only 12 miles from downtown Los Angeles, The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, California. Learn more at huntington.org.