Chicana Curator Removes Cesar Chavez Photo from Exhibition After Abuse Allegations
In response to recent accusations of sexual abuse against Cesar Chavez, curator Karen Mary Davalos has removed a 1969 portrait of him from the exhibit 'Chicano Camera Culture: A Photographic History, 1966 to 2026' at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture, which opened on February 7, 2026, in Riverside, California. The exhibit, featuring 150 pieces from 45 photographers, has become the largest ever curated by The Cheech. Following revelations about Chavez's misconduct involving several women, including UFW co-founder Dolores Huerta, Davalos replaced the portrait with an image of African-American farmworkers advocating for Chavez, emphasizing the movement's inclusive legacy.
Key facts
- Exhibition 'Chicano Camera Culture' opened February 7, 2026 at the Cheech Marin Center.
- Curator Karen Mary Davalos removed a 1969 portrait of Cesar Chavez by George Rodriguez.
- Removal followed March 17, 2026 news of Chavez's sexual abuse allegations, including rape of Dolores Huerta.
- Replaced with a photograph of African-American farmworkers supporting Chavez, emphasizing coalition.
- Exhibition includes 150 works by 45 photographers, spanning 1966 to 2026.
- It is the largest exhibition ever mounted by The Cheech.
- The show is the first comprehensive survey of Chicano photography.
- Davalos has curated for 35 years and never before removed a work from an exhibition.
Entities
Artists
- Karen Mary Davalos
- George Rodriguez
- Laura Aguilar
- Ken Gonzales-Day
- Christina Fernandez
- Rudy Rodriguez
- Cesar Chavez
- Dolores Huerta
- Mack Lyons
Institutions
- Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and Culture
- United Farm Workers of America (UFW)
- New York Times
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
- Southern Christian Leadership Conference
- NAACP
- Black Panther Party
Locations
- Riverside
- California
- United States
- Delano
- Southwest