SACRAMENTO, CA.- The Crocker Art Museum announces Rebels with La Causa: Royal Chicano Air Force Art and Activism, 1970–1990, on view from February 22 through June 28, 2026. This dynamic exhibition explores the seminal first two decades of work by the Royal Chicano Air Force (RCAF), Sacramento’s influential multidisciplinary Chicano art collective that revolutionized the graphic arts and harnessed printmaking as a political tool. Blurring the boundaries between statement, announcement, and art print, RCAF prints and posters were not only works of art but vehicles for activism, community building, and cultural affirmation.

"Rebels With La Causa offers an artistic survey of the range of aesthetics embodied by the RCAF as well as their mastery of screenprinting techniques and experimentation within graphic arts overall. The joining of bicultural (Mexican and American) aesthetics, iconography, and strategic incorporation of subversive humor refuted definitions of Chicana/o art as solely political, ‘ethnic,’ or folk art," observes Terezita Romo, guest curator for the show.

The catalyst for the RCAF was the arrival of artists and educators José Montoya and Esteban Villa at Sacramento State in 1969. More than professional artists, Montoya and Villa were deeply committed activists and community builders who became magnets for Chicana/o art students and independent artists. Their vision fostered a diverse collective that included artists, writers, musicians, dancers, actors, and community organizers across generations and genders. Originally known as the Rebel Chicano Art Front, the group later adopted the name Royal Chicano Air Force and military regalia after their initials were mistaken for the Royal Canadian Air Force. As Montoya explained, the name and dress reflected both seriousness and satire; “air force” and “air farce,” manifesting an irony and self-awareness integral to the work.

Mentorship within the collective encouraged artists to draw from personal experience and Mexican heritage, resulting in a wide range of bicultural expressions and layered visual influences. As diverse as the collective’s aesthetics was its activism. RCAF prints and posters document an expansive array of artistic, cultural, spiritual, and political events—many organized by the collective itself and others created in solidarity with broader social justice movements.

The exhibition features 95 iconic works on paper produced between 1970 and 1990, alongside photographs, ephemera, and video materials that illuminate the RCAF’s artistic production, community involvement, and political organizing. These works not only announced events but also showcased bold experimentation and technical innovation that helped shape Chicana/o art history and American graphic design.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the Chicana/o artists and activists of this collective—through their work, they ignited an artistic, cultural, and political renaissance whose impact continues to resonate in the Sacramento region and far beyond. The Crocker is honored to present the largest exhibition of their work to date,” notes Agustín Arteaga, the Crocker’s new Mort and Marcy Friedman Director & CEO.

In 1973, the establishment of the Centro de Artistas Chicanos and the collective’s incorporation as a nonprofit expanded the RCAF’s reach and led to a flourishing of activity throughout Sacramento’s Chicano/a scene. Their work extended into public art, education, and direct community services, including La Raza Bookstore (now La Raza Galería Posada) and the Breakfast for Niños program. Through the Cultural Affairs Committee, the collective not only coordinated but also initiated cultural events, exhibitions, performances, and civic engagement.

The RCAF also maintained steadfast support for the United Farm Workers (UFW), a movement important to many members and their families. RCAF involvement included organizing, walking picket lines, and producing posters, flags, and lawn signs that helped bring Chicano labor and civil rights issues to the forefront of national awareness.
Over five decades later, the RCAF’s graphics continue to resonate for their visual innovation, creation of new cultural symbols, and foundational role of Chicana/o art within the broader history of art in the United States and beyond. Operating primarily in the public sphere, RCAF artists informed, empowered, and educated communities while embedding art within everyday life.