In Chicago, Mexican-American Altars Reimagine Home
A Hyperallergic essay examines Mexican-American devotional altars to La Virgen de Guadalupe in Chicago, arguing that they function as a craft tradition that helps migrants remake “home” in new and sometimes hostile environments. The author links the altars’ public presence—on porches, in gardens, storefronts, windows, and sidewalks—to community protection amid increased ICE targeting of migrant neighborhoods. The piece is part of a series on underrepresented craft histories researched and written by the 2025 Craft Archive Fellows in collaboration with the Center for Craft. It notes that institutional attention has more often focused on Día de Muertos ofrendas, such as the National Museum of Mexican Art’s annual exhibition held for four decades, while everyday Guadalupe altars receive less recognition. Drawing on a personal photographic record built over nearly 15 years, the author documents current altars in South Chicago and Pilsen, historically Mexican neighborhoods in Illinois.
From This Briefing
This story was covered in Museum Upheavals, Protest Flashpoints, and Guerrilla Hangings