"Ofelia Esparza: A Retrospective" celebrates the life and work of Chicana artist, altarista, and educator Ofelia Esparza, whose cultural impact on East Los Angeles and beyond spans more than seven decades. Widely recognized as one of California’s most revered folk artists, Esparza helped bring the traditions of Mexican altar-making and Día de los Muertos into the American mainstream, beginning in the 1970s, through her work with community arts center Self Help Graphics & Art in Boyle Heights. This exhibition recreates a selection of Esparza’s iconic altars, accompanied by a major survey of works spanning her career since the 1950s. While Esparza is often celebrated for her altar-making, "Ofelia Esparza: A Retrospective" brings overdue attention to her wide-ranging artistic practice, which includes drawing, painting, and printmaking. Esparza’s artworks reflect her lifelong commitment to creative experimentation, and many of her works intersect with the social and political movements of her time, including the Chicano Movement, the United Farm Workers Movement, and broader struggles for social and environmental justice. Through original artworks, installations, and archival materials, this exhibition traces Esparza’s evolution as an artist and cultural matriarch whose vision and influence have profoundly shaped the trajectory of American art and culture.