Cheech Marin’s Chicano Art Collection Finds A New Home

As seen on KTLA 5 news.

For as long as California has been known as California, Chicano culture has been part of its history. Unfortunately, the documentation of this history is often underserved and it deserves a place where Californians and visitors from all over can come and appreciate the state’s rich cultural heritage. The Riverside Art Museum is creating said space with the help of someone who’s been waving the Chicano flag, and representing LA, for their entire career, Cheech Marin.

Yes, the very same “whaaat’s happening” counter-culture film icon and California native that introduced the world to Maui Wowie on the big screen is leading the charge in art preservation. It’s no secret that outside of his prolific career in entertainment, Marin is also an avid collector of Chicano art. In fact, his collection is so extensive that it’s considered one of the best in the world. The City of Riverside, California is remodeling and renaming part of the facility as the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture for his contributions. “The Cheech,” for short, which carries the clout of other one name museums like The Getty or The Guggenheim.

In addition to the building’s renovations, the city has announced that it will make an annual pledge of a million dollars to exhibit the artwork that will feature hundreds of pieces from Marin’s collection. The 25 year plan will provide a state-of-the-art display worthy of many classic works of Chicano art. He has become like the Doggfather of art.

The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture is expected to open in the Fall of 2021.