Artworks

Selected Works

AltaMed began collecting art in the 1970s as part of a holistic approach to healing that honors the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of everyone. AltaMed believes that art uplifts our spirits and souls, connects people, and is an essential part of healthy and thriving communities. Our founders, active participants in the Chicano Movement of the late 1960s, addressed social inequities by providing quality and affordable healthcare. Today, we continue to primarily serve Latino, Mexican, and Chicano communities, installing Latino art in all of our medical facilities and offices to create welcoming, beautiful, and culturally relevant spaces.

Our strategy aims to tell the complete story of Chicano history and culture through visual art. We collect works in all mediums—including sculpture, painting, prints, photography, ceramics, and more—from artists across the United States and in a variety of artistic styles. The collection currently includes approximately 4,000 works of art, spanning from the early 1900s to the present.

The collection features prominent Chicano artists such as Carlos Almaraz, Roberto Gil de Montes, Frank Romero, Patssi Valdez, John Valadez, Laura Aguilar, and César Martínez. It also includes Mexican masters like Rufino Tamayo, Raúl Anguiano, Graciela Iturbide, and José Chávez Morado, as well as many emerging artists. Additionally, Latin American and Black American artists are incorporated to enrich artistic conversations about identity, immigration, social justice, and other shared experiences and cultures.