Caldwell Snyder Gallery 341 Sutter Street San Francisco, CA 94108 415.296.7896	Caldwell Snyder Gallery 1328 Main Street St. Helena, CA 94574 707.200.5050
		Alejandro Rivera
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Alejandro Rivera mesmerizes viewers with his allegorical illusions. The Mexico based artist weaves an intricate tale within each painting from his idol and icon series.

In his idol series he addresses vestiges from past cultures and looks at how they have adapted into modern times. Today these idols serve as prized possessions and objects of worship. He integrates these idols into his own fanciful scenes in which the signs and symbols serve as a commentary on history.

In his icon series Rivera parts from the formal composition found in 14th Century Russian icons. Often involving a religious figure as a central focal point, these icons are framed by architectural motifs, angels or landscapes. Infusing his unique creative vision, Rivera re-appropriates the tradition of painted icons.

While each painting is rich with its own contextual significance, it is the beauty and style, realism and ingenuity that bring these works to life. Although self-taught, Rivera’s work reveals his great knowledge of classical painting. He notes the French classical school- Delacroix, David, and Gericault as having influenced the portraiture aspect of his paintings. While his employment of color is clearly owed to Mexican traditions. Muralism for example utilized bright colors to convey bold political messages with a decorative appeal. While Rivera’s works are not all overtly political, each painting touches upon history- looking at how the past shapes our modern society.

“...Rivera weaves ingeniously complex allegories for contemporary times. His source material covers a vast terrain: A single series of paintings, for example, may include references as diverse as 14th century religious art, early photography, Pop art, Greek mythology, economic theory and ancient history. All converge to form irresistible enigmas, careful collages that invite highly imaginative readings.”

“Rivera completes his paintings in series, and together they represent a continuing dialogue on constraints of religion, appearance, sexual taboos and societal constructs, all subjects which weigh heavily on the artists mind.”

To view a painting by Mexican artist Alejandro Rivera is to enter into an alternate universe--a place where time has collapsed, allowing artifacts of disparate civilizations to engage in a continuous and complex dialogue. His works have a labyrinthine, densely narrative quality that both invites and rewards extended contemplation. Rivera’s ability to manipulate symbols has allowed for compositions that speak incisively about the timeless, collective nature of human experience. Indeed, Rivera’s paintings can often be read as allegories of contemporary life—especially in Mexico, where elements of American pop culture have become deeply ingrained in society. Yet for all their depth of symbolism, Rivera’s paintings are not prescriptive. They are, more than anything else, expansive works, testaments to the boundless potential of the human imagination.

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Born in México City, February 8, 1974

Education:

Centro Cultural El Nigromante, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
1992 - Painting and drawing workshops. 1993 Printmaking (etching and engraving)

Now lives and works in San Miguel de Allende (S.M.A.) Guanajuato, Mexico.

Solo Exhibitions:

2007 - Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco CA. 2006 - “Origin and destinations” Campton Gallery, New York NY. 2004 - “Myths Mirrored” Trajan Gallery, Carmel CA; “Paintings and drawings”, Museum of Querétaro, Qro. 2003 - “Five authors”, Etchings, drawings and plates, Museum of the City of Querétaro, Qro. 2002 - “Metaphors of surface”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New York NY. 2001 - “Sacred and Profane”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco CA. 2000 - “Vestiges from the city of immortals, drawings”, Galería de Arte Contemporáneo S.M.A. 1999 - “The divine Tragedy” Kunsthaus Santa Fé, S.M.A. 1998 - “Dreams and Enclosures”, Museum of the city of León, Leon, Guanajuato; “Selected Paintings”, Casa de Sierra Nevada, S.M.A. 1997 - “Rivera Leal, Paintings”, Instituto Allende, S.M.A. Selected Group Exhibitions: 2005 - “Colecciones, Mexican art from 50 private Chicago collections”, National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago IL. 2004 - “Arte Americas”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Miami, Fl. 2003 - “20th Aniversary Exhibition”, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, SF, CA & New York, NY. 2001 - “Introductions South”, San José Institute of Contemporary Art, San José, CA; “Paradise found (landscapes)”, Museum of the City of Querétaro. Qro. 2000 - “Mannierism Revisited”, Museum of the City of Querétaro, Qro; “Contemporary Figurative”, Casa Lam, México City; “En Construcción, Kunsthaus Sta. Fé Art Space”, Travelling show, Universidad de Guanajuato, Gto & north states of México. 1997 - “Reflections on water”, Instituto Allende, SMA; “The art of drawing”, Instituto Allende, SMA. 1995 - “Colosio”, Palacio de Minas,
México DF. 1992 - “San Miguel for San Miguel”, Centro Cultural El Nigromante, SMA; Art Fairs- Represented by Caldwell Snyder Gallery: 2005 - Art San Francisco. 2004 - Arte Americas, Miami; Art San Francisco. 2003 - Art Chicago; Art San Francisco. 2002 - Art Chicago. 2001 - Art Miami.