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.
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.
Education: Centro Cultural El Nigromante, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. 1992 - Painting and drawing workshops. 1993 Printmaking (etching and engraving)
Born in México City, February 8, 1974