The new exhibition at the Petersen Museum is a tribute to the Lowrider

The Petersen Automotive Museum puts lowrider culture in the spotlight.

The Los Angeles cultural institution is currently hosting an exciting exhibit called “Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street and Show.” The show, which runs through next spring, attempts to showcase how the culture has evolved over the decades and spread beyond Southern California.

Lowrider culture originated in Southern California’s post-war car scene. The region’s hotrod fans wanted to go fast, and lowriders made it a point to ride low and slow so their cars could be seen. These custom cars – known for their lavish paint jobs, ornate trim, and hydraulic systems – were canvases on which they could express themselves. The culture first emerged in Southern California’s Chicano communities, but has since spread to include black and Asian Americans, as well as other cultural groups. Its influence has also spread beyond the region, spreading to other parts of the Southwestern United States and even Japan.

“Best in Low” is not Petersen’s first lowrider exhibition, but it is her largest and most comprehensive. So the exhibit, which fills the museum’s Mullin Grand Salon, features some of the most famous lowrider cars and motorcycles of all time, such as “Gypsy Rose,” the 1964 Chevrolet Impala that was the first lowrider to be added to the National Historic Vehicle Registry. Visitors can also see the 1936 Ford pickup truck named “Trokita Loca,” the 1968 Cadillac Eldorado Fleetwood better known as “Helldorado,” and a 1968 Schwinn Stringray named “Casino Dreamin.” The exhibit also shows how these automotive wonders are built and features works by some of the Chicano Art Movement’s most influential artists and photographers.

“This Lowrider exhibition will be a new chapter in the exploration of lowrider craftsmanship and the influence of this culture on the custom scene,” said guest curator Dr. Denise Sandoval in a statement. “We will also highlight the region’s cultural diversity for the first time, including cars and motorcycles from Northern California, New Mexico, Texas, Brazil, France and Japan, as well as showcasing cars owned and worked on by women.”

“Best in Low” opened in early May and runs through April of next year. Tickets, starting at $12 for children and $21 for adults, are available now through the museum’s website.

Click here to see more photos from Best in Low: Lowrider Icons of the Street and Show.