SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- The Mexican Museum, the premier West Coast museum of Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano, Latin American, and Latino art, culture and heritage, and affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is marking its 40th Anniversary with a special art exhibition, Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez, which showcases the works of the Museum’s world-renowned founder.

Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez, which will run from November 19, 2015 to May 20, 2016, highlights the Mexican-American artist’s important works, enabling Museum guests to witness Rodriguez’ unique creative style and learn about his invaluable contributions to Latino cultural promotion and awareness. Rodriguez is known for inspiring a Mexican “cultural reclamation” movement in the 1950’s, a period of American art history driven by a highly-restrictive artistic environment. This ultimately led to his founding of The Mexican Museum in 1975, the first museum in the United States to present and preserve the art of Mexico and Mexican Americans.

“It is with great pleasure and heartfelt gratitude that we present this historic exhibition of Peter’s work. There is no greater way to honor him and the world-class museum he founded 40 years ago,” said Andrew M. Kluger, Chairman of The Mexican Museum Board of Trustees. “Since 1975, Peter’s vision for the Museum has grown to encompass the art, culture, and heritage of the Mexican, Chicano, Latino and Latin American experience. The Mexican Museum stands today as proof that one man’s vision can open the whole world to diversity in all of its rich, artistic forms.”

Along with the generous financial support of numerous individual donors, Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez is sponsored in large part by the San Francisco Foundation, a leading agent of Bay Area philanthropy and the source of the grant that finally allowed Rodriguez to open The Mexican Museum four decades ago.

The San Francisco Foundation is an incubator for community investment, original ideas, and passionate leadership. Since 1948, they have been bringing together networks of philanthropists and civic leaders to support and build on the strengths of the community and make the Bay Area the best place it can be. Ranking among the nation’s largest community foundations in grant making and assets, they give millions of dollars a year to foster strong communities, respond to local needs, and elevate public awareness.

Curators of the Vida, Cultura y Color: The Art of Peter Rodriguez exhibition include Bea Carrillo Hocker, Lupe Kindel, Nora Wagner, and Adriana Williams.