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Artist Statement I am a printmaker, painter, and ceramic sculptor from Oaxaca, Mexico. My work is inspired by the myths, symbols, colors, and ancient traditions of Meso-AmeriCA While in the midst of working these traditional influences arise spontaneously, accidentally, and in the moment. I use natural and supernatural figures such as angels, eagles, jaguars, horses, hearts, and moons. Silk screen allows me to take advantage of textures and use brilliant and vivid colors. I make loose open screen marks combined with drawn and found images. My focus in painting is to create textured complex, and magical realms. I rework the image many times completely changing the composition, subject matter, and color, until finally arriving at the finished piece. The paintings pass through many renditions and moods like daydreams. Hand building in ceramics brings me back to the earliest memories I have of making art. It allows me to be in contact with this element earth which is so tactile, generous, and humble. My clay figures are inspired by my personal vocabulary that has been influenced by Pre-Columbian sculptures. I primarily use oxides to create natural earth tones. Artist Biography Calixto Robles was born in Oaxaca,Mexico. He is a painter, printmaker, and sculptor. His work, which is inspired by the myths and symbols of the ancient traditions of Mexico, has been exhibited in several galleries, including the Museo Nacional de la Estampa in Mexico City, the Centro Cultural de Mexico in Paris, France, the Biblioteca de la Havana in Cuba, and the Legion of Honor and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, California. Robles has been a member of the California Society of Printmakers since 1993 and has taught silk- screen printmaking at the Mission Cultural Center since 1992. Résumé EDUCATION 1980-83 Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca, Mexico 1994 Talle de Artes Plasticas Rufino Tamayo, Oaxaca, Mexico 2002 Art Studio of the University of California in Berkeley EXHIBITS 2004 Oakland Museum of California Collectors Gallery, “Images from Tlalocan”, Oakland, CA Museum of the Legion of Honor, “Arco Iris de Culturas”, San Francisco CA Snite Museum of Art “Dia de los Muertos”, Notre Dame, IN The Gallery America in the University of Notre Dame, Institute for Latino Studies, Myth and Symbols, Notre Dame, IN Meridiam Gallery “Edition of Four”,San Francisco CA 2003 Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana, “6th Annual Latino Art Auction”, San Jose, CA The Mission Cultural Center, “ 25 Years of Heart and Struggle”, San Francisco, CA 2002 Oakland Museum of California,“Espiritu Sin Fronteras”, Oakland, CA SoMarts, “Oaxaca to Atzlan”, San Francisco, CA Oakland Museum of California Collector’s Gallery,“Visions Latino”, Oakland, CA 2001 Museo Nacional de la Estampa, Mexico City, Mexico Instituto de Artes Grafica, “I Bienal de grabado Rufino Tamayo”, Oaxaca, Mexico Fundacion del Carmen, “Oaxaca bajo su Immensa Intensidad”, Mexico City, Mexico Latin American Gallery, “Nocheztli”, San Francisco, CA 2000 San Augustin Gallery, “Arte de Oaxaca”, Oaxaca, Mexico The Mission Cultural Center, Solo Show “ Sonidos y Formas, Punto de Partida”, San Francisco, CA 1999 Biblioteca de la Havana, ”Prints from San Francisco”, La Havana, Cuba Barrio Tercero, “Semana Mexicana en Paris”, Paris, France The Mission Cultural Center, “Oaxaca Huaxyacac en la nariz de los Huaxes”, San Francisco, CA 1998 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, “Labyrinth for the Dead”, San Francisco, CA California Society of Printmakers, “85th Anniversary”, San Francisco, CA Centro Cultural de Mexico, “Dia de los Muertos”, Paris, France The Mission Cultural Center, “Havana/San Francisco”, San Francisco, CA 1997 Richmond Art Center, “North American Printmaking Exhibit”, Richmond, CA Vorpal Gallery, “Latin American Artists” San Francisco, CA La Pena Cultural Center, “Dia de los Muertos”, Berkeley, CA Carmichael Gallery, “Two Person Show” San Francisco, CA New College of California, “ Art Against the Death Penalty”, San Francisco, CA 1996 Art of the Americas, “Valley of Light”, Fresno, CA La Mano Magica, “Dia de los Muertos”, Oaxaca, Mexico Vorpal Gallery, “Second Annual Contemporary Mexican Artists” , San Francisco, CA The Legion of Honor, “Silent Auction for La Raza”, San Francisco, CA Vesuvios,”Prints”, San Francisco, CA EXHIBITS 1995 Galeria on the Rim, “Art of the Americas”, San Francisco, CA Galeria de la Raza/Studio 24, Solo Show “Screen Prints”, San Francisco, CA Artists to Artist 1994 Galeria de la Raza/Studio 24, Solo Show, “New Screen Prints”, San Francisco, CA White and Cooper Hall, “Cultural Expressions”, San Francisco, CA Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, “Mission Grafica Retrospective”, San Francisco, CA 1993 The Mission Cultural Center, “The California Society of Printmakers Annual Show, San Francisco, CA 1992 Oakland Museum, “Festival of Arte and Cultura Sin Fronteras” , Oakland, CA EXPERIENCE 1992-Present The Mission Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA Silk screen instructor for adults and youth for the center and partnered with programs including Escuela Mas Summer Program (1996-1998) Horizons Unlimited (1994-1995) Mayor’s Office After School Program (1995- 1999), and The Mexican Museum After School Program(2001- present) GROUPS 1992-Present Member of The California Society of Printmakers CURATOR The Legion of Honor, “Arco Iris de Culturas”,San Francisco CA Curated first Day of the Dead Exhibit WORKSHOPS The Mexican Museum, , San Francisco, CA Artist Teacher, August 2004 Designed and taught screen printing using Mexican symbols SFMOMA Family Day Artist, San Francisco, CA Artist Teacher, February 2005 Designed and taught Frida Kahlo Retablos Self Portrait Project Coming soon... 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