"The Dean Collection Presents: Hometown Heroes" exhibition to open alongside "Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys" as an ode to local artists. On view April 18 – November 8, 2026. 

San Diego, CA – April 6, 2026 — The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) announces The Dean Collection Presents: Hometown Heroes, a new exhibition opening April 18, 2026, alongside Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.   

To celebrate San Diego’s creative community, Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys approached MCASD with the idea of spotlighting local artists from the Dean Collection to accompany the run of Giants. Thrilled by this idea, MCASD collaborated with the Deans to organize Hometown Heroes, which will feature photographers MJ Pimentel, Oscar Cruz, and Chata, drawn from the Dean Collection, in dialogue with selected works from the museum’s permanent collection by regional artists Andrea Chung, Esteban Cabeza de Baca, and Fox Maxy. 

Works by Pimentel, Cruz and Chata capture facets of life in San Diego with images that speak to the encroachment of gentrification, a longstanding history of Chicana/o/e activism, lowrider car culture, and community pride. With an eye towards the natural environment, Chung’s cyanotypes of lionfish shed light on the enduring effects of colonialism, while Cabeza de Baca’s layered painting and Maxy’s sculptural video installation point to the cultural and ecologic forces that have shaped the US/Mexico border region. 

This exhibition celebrates San Diego’s artists and histories born from a recent acquisition made by The Dean Collection. Neighborhood Visualz, an exhibition showcasing film photographs by Cruz and Pimentel, was on view at Por Vida, a coffee shop and gallery in Barrio Logan, when Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean) paid a visit and decided to purchase the entire show. This is in line with the Deans’ unique approach to collecting that centers on forming personal relationships with artists and amplifying voices that have been historically underrepresented.  

“Being given the opportunity to showcase even a small glimpse of the immense talent and rich culture that San Diego has to offer is a privilege beyond measure.” said Chata, an artist featured in the exhibition. “Hometown Heroes opens new doors of possibility for regional artists, offering a platform to connect with and engage communities that might otherwise overlook our work. To be included within MCASD is not only an individual honor, but a shared accomplishment for our city, one that deserves to be recognized and celebrated.”  

This MCASD exclusive exhibition centers Black, Brown, and Indigenous experiences at a critical time. As the first Giants venue incorporating both English and Spanish labels, MCASD continues to further their commitment to highlighting the work of Latino/a/e artists in the broader San Diego community and beyond. Local traditions will also be incorporated into the run of Giants, starting with a performance and blessing by Danza Mexi’cayotl—one of the oldest and most respected Chichimeca-Azteca dance groups in San Diego County—to kick off the exhibition’s opening celebration. Hometown Heroes is curated by MCASD Associate Curator, Amy Crum, and will be on view April 18 through November 8, 2026. 

ABOUT GIANTS 
The Museum Organized by the Brooklyn Museum in 2024, Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys will feature 37 Black American and diasporic artists from Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean whose monumental works tower in both scale, conceptual depth and technical skill. The Deans have fostered meaningful relationships with the wide array of artists included in the exhibition and the mission of Giants is a testament to their philosophy: “By the artists, for the artists, with the people.” The exhibition’s run at MCASD is the inaugural display of the collection on the West Coast. 

ABOUT MCASD 
The Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) is the region’s foremost forum devoted to the exploration and presentation of the art of today. Open since 1941, the Museum invites people to reflect on their lives, communities, and the ever-changing world through the powerful prism of contemporary art. Located along the ocean in the beautiful coastal community of La Jolla — MCASD showcases an internationally-recognized collection. Its dynamic exhibition schedule features a vast array of media in an unprecedented variety of spaces, along with a growing dedication to community experiences and public programs. 

VISIT 
700 Prospect St, La Jolla, 92037 | www.mcasd.org | @mcasandiego 

IMAGES 
High-resolution images can be found here. 

PRESS CONTACT 
Melissa Zuazo, Public Relations & Outreach Coordinator | mzuazo@mcasd.org | (858) 366-4264 

General Press Inquiries: press@mcasd.org