As the popularity of lowrider culture has grown in the United States and abroad, the skills involved in creating a lowrider vehicle have similarly advanced, with builders, painters, and metalworkers reaching new levels of artistry and craftsmanship. The Petersen Automotive Museum has celebrated this evolution since its first exhibition on lowriding in 2000 and continues to recognize the culture’s contributions to automotive history. With Best in Low, the Museum turns a lens on the creation of the car itself, as well as on the street and the show—spaces where the craft of lowriding is on full display. 

The exhibition includes iconic lowrider vehicles and those newer to the scene, all featuring outstanding customization in various aspects of the lowrider build, from paint and metal finishing to interiors and hydraulics. The development of these techniques and practices over time is explored, and award-winning vehicles are featured.

It is noteworthy that Best in Low coincides with the end of anti-cruising bans in California, which were first implemented in the 1980s and significantly impacted lowriding. The streets can once again be an exhibition space for the lowrider community to show off their artistic and technical skills, even as lowrider car shows continue to proliferate, offering an alternative space for the appreciation of lowrider craftsmanship.

Co-curated by the Petersen Automotive Museum and Dr. Denise Sandoval

Curatorial Advisor Joe Ray

The Museum wishes to acknowledge the coordination assistance generously provided by Chino Vega and Takashi Kikuchi.