Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a vibrant tradition that honors the lives of those who have passed away that brings Mexican families and communities around the world together every fall. A living altar of remembrance is created at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago for its annual Día de Muertos exhibit. Mexican art, color, and symbolism express the beauty of the country’s long-held belief that death is not the end but rather a continuation of life in memory and spirit.
Photos by Ashly Genchi
Captions are listed by order of appearance, left to right.
1) An altar with colorful marigolds, traditional bread figures, fresh fruit, candles, and family photographs. An altar with colorful marigolds, traditional bread figures, fresh fruit, candles, and family photographs.
2) “Flores para La Perla” – An altar with magenta and marigold hues, celebrating the life and legacy of “La Perla.” Surrounded by photos, candles, and traditional.
3) A Día de los Muertos inspired sculpture with skeleton activists rallying beneath the Little Village arch in Chicago, carrying signs calling for housing rights, family unity, and fair wages. “Cuando luchamos, ganamos, iLa Villita resiste!” (“When we fight, we win , Little Village resists!”)
4) A shiny lowrider bicycle standing among marigold petals in an altar honoring a loved one, surrounded by portraits, monarch butterflies, and a rosary of red roses. The ofrenda uses the theme of street culture, showing the spirit of Chicano identity.
5) A regal Catrina, draped in feathers and pearls, gazes into a mirror that reflects her skeleton, a haunting reminder of life’s transience amid elegance.
6) A Día de los Muertos altar adorned with purple fabric, marigolds, and calaveras honors the dead blending art, faith, and remembrance in a vibrant celebration of life and death.