Description

This retrospective catalog spans four decades of selected works by Abel Alejandre, an artist known for his meticulous graphite technique and exploration of masculinity, identity, and personal mythology. With a practice rooted in discipline and introspection, Alejandre’s work confronts both public and private dimensions of male identity, often framed through his own Mexican-American experience.

From early autobiographical sketches to monumental works like A Tale of Two Feathers, this volume traces the evolution of Alejandre’s practice across mediums—including graphite, woodcut, and painting. Drawing from influences as varied as classical mythology, comic books, and Chicano culture, his work blends realism with surrealism, reverence with rebellion. Follow the evolution of his obsessive precision, reflecting Alejandre’s intense focus, vulnerability, and unwavering commitment to craft.

The catalog features a selection of early color and black-and-white works, including drawings, prints, paintings, and notable projects—many accompanied by Alejandre’s own commentary. Essays by artist Mario Ybarra Jr., curator Mat Gleason, and art historian Dianna Marisol Santillano offer further context, examining the themes, influences, and legacy of Alejandre’s work within contemporary art and cultural discourse.

At its core, this retrospective is a celebration of resilience—the slow, deliberate accumulation of marks, memories, and meaning over forty years. It honors the radical act of working by hand in an increasingly digital world and affirms the enduring relevance of personal storytelling in the pursuit of universal truths.