Lowrider Culture in New Mexico

Lowriding is more than a car scene in New Mexico — it’s a deeply rooted cultural expression that reflects generations of pride, creativity, and community. From the streets of Española and Albuquerque to small towns across Northern New Mexico, lowriders are rolling works of art that embody the region’s unique blend of Chicano heritage, craftsmanship, and storytelling.

Born out of post-war car customization in the Southwest, lowriding became a form of cultural identity and resistance for Mexican-American communities. In New Mexico, this tradition evolved into a distinctive art form where cars are carefully restored, painted with intricate murals, and fitted with hydraulic systems that allow them to hop along Central Avenue or cruise through Española’s main street. Each car represents family history, artistic skill, and pride of place.

Today, lowriding remains an essential part of New Mexico’s cultural landscape. Car clubs and families gather for weekend cruises, parades, and community events that honor the tradition and keep it alive for new generations. Beyond the chrome and paint, lowriding is about storytelling — celebrating love of land, family, and heritage through motion and design.

As a documentary photographer based in Albuquerque, I’ve spent years hanging out with and photographing lowrider communities across New Mexico — from the garages where the work begins to the streets where the cars come alive. My images aim to honor the people behind the machines, capturing the craftsmanship, pride, and cultural legacy that make New Mexico’s lowrider scene unlike anywhere else in the world.

Black and white photo of a car with its front end raised vertically on a hydraulic lift, surrounded by people at an outdoor event, with a stadium and stadium seating in the background.
A woman with tattoos and vintage hairstyle outdoors, looking at the camera, wearing a bandana-style top.
A tattooed man with tattoos on arms and hands, bald head, covering his face with his arms in a tattoo shop, with tattoos and artwork in the background.
A man wearing a black baseball cap, glasses, a chain necklace, and a graphic t-shirt, holding a sign that reads "Genuine Family" and "Albuquerque" in front of a plain wall.
A woman with long dark hair and large earrings sitting in the driver's seat of a vintage car, looking at the camera.
Black and white photo of a young man with a serious expression, wearing a cap that reads "L.O.F. VISION Car Club, New Mexico". The background shows blurred cars and people, with bright bokeh lights.
A man with sunglasses, a cap, and a Duke shirt holding a young girl while another girl walks beside them on the sidewalk in front of a building with barred windows.
Black and white photograph of a Lowrider car with a woman in provocative clothing leaning against the side, with three men in the background on a street during sunset.
A man with a mustache and goatee wearing a black wide-brimmed hat, a plaid shirt, a cross necklace, and dark pants standing in front of a vintage truck at night.
A tattooed man wearing a backward cap and glasses, shirtless, holding a small baby in his arms, standing outdoors on a sidewalk with blurred trees and buildings in the background.
A woman with blonde hair and tattoos sitting in the driver's seat of a Lowrider car, looking at the camera.
A tattooed man wearing a cap with "Zacatecas" written on it, working on a motorcycle in a workshop.
Night scene of an urban street with vintage car parked in the foreground, illuminated building with signs including "KIMO" and "KIM" lights, pedestrians walking, and street signs visible.
A young woman with dark hair, makeup, and sunglasses on her head sitting inside a classic vehicle, with an older man in the driver's seat, both smiling and looking outside.
A tattooed man standing at night outdoors, wearing a tank top and sweatpants, with string lights overhead and cars in the background.
Group of men pushing a pickup truck on a street at night, with power lines and trees in the background.
A shirtless man with tattoos covering his torso and arms, wearing an eye patch over his right eye, standing outdoors with a group of people and vintage cars in the background on a cloudy day.
A man with tattoos on his arm wearing a Raiders cap sitting in the driver's seat of a car, looking at the camera. In the background, people are standing outside, some with umbrellas.
A young man with a mustache and goatee wearing a dark hat, plaid shirt, and a necklace with a cross, standing at night on a street with blurry lights in the background.
A woman stands leaning against a vintage car on a city street, wearing a sweatshirt with the word 'Lowrider' and a graphic design, jeans, sneakers, and a cap, with tattoos on her arms.
People gather around Lowrider cars parked on a city street, with a building in the background. The scene is in black and white.
Three men with tattoos are at a gas station. The man on the left is sitting on a ledge, the man in the middle is standing and holding the other's hand, and the man on the right is standing near a trash bin, holding a phone. The background shows gas p
A black car performing a stunt with its front wheels lifted off the ground, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers at night.
A woman with dark, wet hair sitting in a Lowrider, reaching out with her arm, in a black and white photograph.
Two men standing outdoors with buildings and cloudy sky in the background, one smoking and holding a bottle, both wearing baseball caps and sports jerseys.
A man with sunglasses and a cap standing near a Lowrider on a trailer, with a dramatic sky with clouds overhead.
Three people sitting in a Lowrider, with one man in the front showing a peace sign and looking at the camera, while the others are in the back and front seats.
Group of men standing and engaging in conversation outdoors, with a cloudy sky, power lines, and a 'No Exit' sign visible in the background. The scene appears casual and urban.
A middle-aged man with tattoos on his arms, wearing sunglasses, a bandana, a white tank top, black suspenders, and dark pants, standing outdoors next to a vintage car, with a cityscape and partly cloudy sky in the background.
People sitting inside and around classic cars at a car show or outdoor event, with a man and two children in a convertible in the foreground, in a black-and-white photograph.
Four people and a dog sitting outside at night. One shirtless man with tattoos on his arm is sitting on a chair, holding a camera, with a small dog near his side. A woman with glasses and dark hair is sitting on a bed, reaching toward the dog. Two wo
A woman with tattoos and long curly hair wearing a sequined dress, hat, and high-heeled sandals stands on a city street holding a cane, with cars and people in the background.
A tattooed man wearing sunglasses and a bandana kneeling by a Lowrider car at a car show. Other people and cars are visible in the background.
A shirtless man with a chain necklace holding two small dogs, with a group of people and cars in the background on a partly cloudy day.
A person smoking a cigarette outdoors, wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, earrings, and a striped basketball jersey.
A woman with tattoos on her back and arms, including a large religious icon tattoo of Our Lady of Guadalupe, at an outdoor setting with string lights and other people in the background.
A crowd of people gathered around a Lowrider that is lifted and flipped onto its hood in an outdoor setting.
A man wearing a tank top, a cap with 'I'MY' written on it, chains, and fingerless gloves, standing outdoors at night with a fence in the background, holding a can and making a hand gesture.
A classic Lowrider with a lifted front end, balancing on its rear wheels, performing a stunt at a crowded outdoor event with onlookers capturing the moment.
A young woman with wavy hair and tattoos sitting in the front seat of a vintage convertible Lowrider on a city street, smiling and looking to the side, with people and storefronts visible in the background.
People gathering on a city sidewalk in the evening, with children and adults, some looking at their phones, and a dog sitting on the ground. Candles are lit on the sidewalk near a car, and a sign with the word 'got space' and a phone number is visibl
Back view of a bald man with tattoos on his arms and a large tattoo of Jesus Christ's face on his back, standing outdoors near a house in black and white.
A group of people sitting on chairs outside a brick house, with a large pine tree in front. A Lowrider white car is parked on the street. A man stands near a short wall, smiling at the camera. The scene is black and white.
A man wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap, and a hoodie holding a sign that reads 'Pockets Only' with graffiti artwork of cars and street art on the brick wall behind him.
Two women sitting in the front seats of a Lowrider car. The woman in the passenger seat wears a hat with the name 'Jefa' written on it and is smiling at the camera. The woman in the driver's seat is looking at her phone, smiling. The photo is in blac
Black and white photo of two men in a Lowrider car at night; one in the foreground wearing a striped shirt and straw hat, the other in the background with dark hair and a dark shirt.
A man standing on a tilted Lowrider car holding a phone, surrounded by other parked cars on a city street in black and white.
A group of young men with tattoos and dog leashes standing next to a red pickup truck, with a person handing them a phone or money, outdoors on a sunny day.
A vintage blue Chevrolet Impala Lowrider convertible driving on a street at sunset, with clouds in the sky and people in the background.
A decorated Lowrider pickup truck participating in a Day of the Dead parade, adorned with colorful marigold flower garlands and paper flowers, with skeleton figurines visible inside. The scene is set at night on a city street decorated with string li
Close-up of a shirtless person with extensive tattoos on their chest and arms, wearing multiple gold necklaces, rings, and bracelets, with a hand placed on their chest.
A person dressed in festive costume with face makeup sitting on the hood of a silver Lowrider in a city street at dusk, celebrating Día de los Muertos, wearing a floral headpiece and green skirt.
A white Lowrider decorated with New Mexico flags and ornaments is driving in a parade with spectators seated along the sidewalk. The car has a yellow flag with a Zia symbol on the hood, and a small rainbow-colored hot air balloon ornament hanging fro
A vintage turquoise convertible Lowrider with two men inside, parked on a city street at night, with pedestrians, a red truck, and a food hall in the background.
A vintage Lowrider car parked on the street at night in front of a building with a brightly lit sign that reads 'KIMO.' There are people walking on the sidewalk, and string lights are hanging across the street. The scene has a lively, nightlife atmos
Man standing on one wheel of a pink cadillac with artistic paintwork, parked on a city street at night, illuminated by street lights and string lights. Lowrider
People gathered at a Lowrider meet in the parking lot during evening, with classic cars and motorcycles visible, including a woman sitting on the ground with her dog. Some individuals are talking while others are looking at the cars.
A young girl dressed in a Halloween costume with face paint stands in front of a flipped Lowrider decorated with colorful lights at night.
Nighttime scene on a city street with a vintage Lowrider stopped at a red pedestrian crossing light. The background features lit storefronts, a marquee, and signs, with warm street lighting and a few other parked cars.
A man and woman sit inside a yellow vehicle at night, talking to a man standing outside the car who is leaning in through the open window. The scene is illuminated by streetlights and nearby signage.
A man with tattoos standing in front of a teal Lowrider car at an intersection during dusk, with traffic lights and several people in the background.
A vintage red convertible Lowrider car with gold accents is lifted on one side at a night car show. People are taking photos and observing cars in a brightly lit outdoor area.
A street scene with a vintage blue and white Lowrider car in the foreground, people walking on the sidewalk, and a large church with a clock tower in the background, sunny day with clear blue sky. Santa Fe New Mexico
A custom orange pickup truck with blue and yellow graphics performing a wheelie at a nighttime car event, crowd of spectators watching, city buildings in the background.
A pink Cadillac car tilted onto its side on an urban street at night, with illuminated headlights and custom LED lights on the grill and hood, and people standing nearby.
Nighttime scene outside The Hotel Blue with three men gathered around two vintage cars, one with the hood open, parked on the street near a brightly lit sign.
A car show with a crowd of people gathered around a blue race car. The car is tilted backward at an angle, revving up for a jump, with a long metal staircase beside it. Many people are taking photos and videos of the scene, and various other cars are
A custom vehicle without a body, with a large front wheel and a smaller rear wheel, performing a wheelie stunt at sunset during a car show event with people watching.
Vintage cars driving down a city street at dusk with buildings and streetlights in the background.
A woman with dark hair and tattoos on her shoulder, smiling while sitting in the driver's seat of a vintage car.
A person in sunglasses appears to control a car that is balancing on its front wheels in an outdoor setting with spectators taking photos.
A vintage white car is parked on a city street during sunset, with a person wearing a black hat sitting inside, looking out.
Rear view of a classic red car with a round spare tire cover reflecting the sunset, showing silhouettes of people and a tree, parked on the street with a Route 66 sign, a yellow license plate, and people standing in the background.
A yellow vintage convertible car driving at night through a city street, with a male driver wearing sunglasses.
A man smiling and holding a woman on his shoulders outdoors during dusk, with parked cars and a building in the background.
Street scene in front of the Kimo theater with classic cars parked and driving by, at the intersection of 5th Street, with buildings, signs, and a cloudy sky
A pink vintage pickup truck parked in front of a church at night, illuminated by external lights.
People pushing a racing car during a race event at sunset, with a crowd of spectators in the background.
Vintage red car with gold and white racing stripes parked on city street during dusk, with people and buildings in the background.
A classic vintage convertible car parked on a city street at night, with people inside. The background features illuminated neon signs, trees with yellow leaves, and a string of lights overhead, creating a nostalgic, lively atmosphere.
A woman with tattoos wearing a red bandana-patterned top and a black skirt, holding two cans of Modelo beer, a pastel-colored bag, and another person behind her with a pink top and tattoos visible.
Interior of a luxury vintage car decorated for a wedding or special occasion, with velvet seats, a pair of sparkly high heels, pink flowers, a teddy bear, and wedding ribbons.
A group of people standing outside a dispensary with a vintage red convertible car parked in front.
A tattooed man wearing sunglasses and a white tank top standing outdoors during sunset.
A young boy sitting on the ground in front of a row of candles near a vintage teal car, with memorial signs and posters in the background.
A vintage black Chevrolet car with its headlights on, driving on a city street during sunset, with buildings and other vehicles in the background.
A woman and a man with a bicycle standing outdoors at night in front of a weathered wooden fence, with the man resting his hand on the woman's shoulder.
A woman inside a moving vintage red car with chrome accents, captured at night with motion blur from city lights.
A vintage brown and white convertible car stopped at an intersection on a city street. Two people are sitting inside the car. The background includes multi-story brick buildings, trees with fall foliage, and traffic lights under a cloudy sky.
A vintage gray car with gold hubcaps driving in a city street, with people and other classic cars visible in the background.
A red vintage car with people inside, displaying a Mexican flag, parked in front of a residential neighborhood with small homes and trees.
Tattoo artist using a tattoo machine on a client's back in a tattoo studio.
Two young men celebrating as a car is lifted on two wheels at night in a parking lot with cars and string lights in the background.
A young woman with long dark hair and a checkered shirt crouches next to a smiling dog, posing with a peace sign in front of a house with a worn white wooden exterior. The house has a window with iron bars, a flag hanging outside, and graffiti on the
Nighttime street scene with a purple car performing a wheelie, supported by a hydraulic lift, while crowd of onlookers and photographers capture the stunt. The scene is on a city intersection at 6th Street with traffic lights, surrounded by modern bu
A man crouching next to a young girl sitting in a small, illuminated tricycle at night in a parking lot, with cars and streetlights in the background.
A woman with makeup and a bandana in the car, smiling and holding a cigarette, in a parking lot with cars and people in the background.
A city street with vintage and modern cars parked along the sides. A red classic car is in the center of the street, with people and motorcycles nearby. The sky is colorful with a sunset or sunrise, and there are trees and signs visible.
A red vintage car with a white roof on a raised platform at a nighttime car show. The car's wheels are replaced with tall, ornate rims with whitewall tires. People and other classic cars are visible in the background under streetlights.
Person performing a bicycle stunt on a street at night, with sparks flying from the bike's wheel. lowrider bike
A vintage teal Chevrolet lowrider car with illuminated blue headlights parked in a parking garage.
Hands holding a metal sign that reads 'WARRIOR NEW MEXICO', with a car and blurred city lights in the background.
A vintage red lowrider car is performing a wheelie on a city street at night, with neon-lit signs and trees in the background.
Night scene outside Ives Flower Shop with vintage cars parked, including a black classic convertible lowrider in the foreground and a brown car in the background, with a small group of people gathered near the cars.
A brown lowrider hopping a parking lot at sunset during a car show. A man in a green and black jacket is working on the car while people watch around. The sky is filled with dramatic clouds, and the scene is lively with onlookers and streetlights.
Two young adults, a woman and a man, sitting outside on gym equipment and concrete ground. The woman has long, curly hair and is wearing a black and red striped shirt and black pants. The man, wearing a blue football jersey and white pants, is sittin
A woman in red dress with tattoos on her arms stands next to a flower arrangement at night on a city street with traffic lights and cars in the background.
Man in black hoodie with chain necklace driving a blue convertible car at night, with another passenger and blurred city street in the background.