Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art opens at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

“Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art” presents the rich and varied contributions of Latino artists in the United States since the mid-20th century, when the concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge. The exhibition is drawn entirely from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s pioneering collection of Latino art. It explores how Latino artists shaped the artistic movements of their day and recalibrated key themes in American art and culture. “Our America” presents a picture of an evolving national culture that challenges expectations of what is meant by “American” and “Latino.”

The exhibition presents 92 artworks in all media, 63 of which have been acquired by the museum since 2011, representing its deep and continuing commitment to collecting Latino art. “Our America” will be on view from Oct. 25 through March 2, 2014. The exhibition is organized by E. Carmen Ramos, curator of Latino art. 

“After three years of talking with artists across the U.S. with an eye toward building a significant collection of Latino art at the museum, it will be a thrill to see so many newly acquired artworks displayed together,” said Ramos.

“Our America” reflects the rich diversity of Latino communities in the United States, showcasing artists of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican descent, as well as other Latin American groups. By presenting works by artists of different generations and regions, the exhibition reveals recurring themes among artists working across the country.

The exhibition will tour to six cities after Washington, D.C. A schedule of confirmed venues is online at americanart.si.edu/ouramerica. The museum is developing a bilingual mobile website that will include commentaries about artworks in the exhibition and images of all the featured artworks.

For more information at http://www.americanart.si.edu>