Making a There There: Marian Muralism and Devotional Streetscapes

This article provides a history of Mexican-American and Chicano/a muralists' depictions of the apparition of the Virgin of Guadalupe that have been painted in Los Angeles/Southern California from the 1960s to the present. It examines a variety of cases: from barrio murals to business signage to contemporary church facades. It argues that these murals reflect sets of customs, values, and a sense of shared history that encourage local unity as well as represent the community to outsiders. Ultimately, it also shows how Marian muralism is a powerful component of the lived religious life of the city and is a practice that serves to define urban places.