Alebrijes & Nahuales: Fantastic Animals From Mexico

In late October 2025, a delegation from the City of Salinas traveled to its Sister City, Guanajuato, Mexico, to attend the internationally renowned Día de Muertos Festival. During the visit, the delegation met with Romain Greco, Executive Director of the Cervantino Festival—one of Latin America’s most prestigious and influential arts festivals. At that meeting, Mr. Greco extended an invitation for Salinas to host Alebrijes y Nahuales: Fantastical Animals of Mexico, a celebrated exhibition featuring eight monumental sculptures created by master artisans from Oaxaca. 

The exhibition offers a striking visual experience while honoring the deep tradition of Mexican magical realism. Curated by Carlo Magno Pedro, the exhibition features works by Angélico Jiménez, Efraín Fuentes, Margarito Melchor, María Jiménez, Giovanni Melchor, and Constantino Blas, with project direction by Romain Greco. Averaging 15 feet in height, these whimsical, larger-than-life sculptures are equipped with strategically placed solar lighting, allowing their intricate craftsmanship to be appreciated both day and night. 

Alebrijes y Nahuales has toured internationally, appearing in major cities such as Paris, New York, and Chicago, and has drawn significant public attention at every stop. Notably, the exhibition attracted more than two million visitors during its 2025 installation at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. 

In partnership with the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, and funded by the Salinas Public Arts Commission, the City of Salinas will bring this extraordinary exhibition to Salinas with a grand opening on July 31st at Northridge Mall, who will host three of the eight sculptures.  On August 7th, an exhibition of an extensive collection of Alibrejes from Oaxaca will open at One Main Street as part of the Arts Council for Monterey County’s First Friday programming and thanks to a partnership with Hartnell College Foundation and the National Steinbeck Center.  This exhibition will be curated by JC Gonzales, the Founder and Artistic Director of Urban Arts Collective.  The exhibition’s closing ceremony will occur on September 4th.     

The exhibition is expected to serve as a powerful driver of cultural tourism while celebrating and elevating the heritage of Salinas’ largest demographic—residents with roots in Mexico. The exhibition run (July 31-September 4, 2026) will include educational programming, interactive activities for all ages, and abundant opportunities for photography and community engagement thanks to a variety of organizations across Salinas.