# Alejandro Colunga

Alejandro Colunga Marín is a Mexican artist, painter and sculptor.

## Early life

He was born in Guadalajara on 11 December 1948 and studied architecture between 1967 and 1971 and music and hospitality in 1971–1973 at Conservatorio del Estado de Jalisco. Colunga's painting and sculpting abilities were self-taught. He has also extensively studied anthropology and languages.

## Career as painter and sculptor

His work is characterized by the intensity of his vision and his passionate expressionism and has gained international recognition.
His works follow the Latin American tradition of surrealism and fantasy. He has participated in many exhibitions, individually and collectively since 1968, in the United States, Mexico, Europe and South America. Some of his works of art form part of important private collections as well as museum collections. He works on ambitious sculptural projects in various countries. For example, one well-known series of eight sculptures of his, The Rotunda by the Sea, is a collection of bronze chairs that were created for Puerto Vallarta's boardwalk (malecon).
Colunga has cited Rufino Tamayo as an artist who has influenced his work.
He studied architecture for three years before dedicating himself to painting in 1971.

## Individual exhibitions, trajectory, and awards

* 1968
"La Galería", Guadalajara, Jalisco.
* 1969
Senior International, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
* 1972
Casa de la Cultura, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
* 1974
Galería Doce, Guadalajara, Jalisco. lithograph at Ernesto de Soto. San Francisco, California.
* 1975
Lithographs at Kyron's ; studio with Andrew Vlady.
Exposition Galería Franco Terranova, IPANEMA, Río de Janeiro, Brasil. Galería O. M., Guadalajara, Jalisco.
* 1976
Museo de Arte Moderno, Morelia Michoacán. Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Bahía, Brasil. Galeria Uno, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco.
* 1977
Galeria Miró, Monterrey, N. L.
* 1978
This year He travels to Brasil, Europa, África and India.
* 1979
Galería Miró, Monterrey, N. L.
* 1980
Travels to Europe, with the purpose to research and study. Museo de Arte Moderno, Cd. De México, D. F. Galería Hagerman Baños, México, D. F.
* 1981
Promoción de las Artes, Monterrey, N. L.
* 1982
Museum of Modern Art, O.E.A., Washington, D. C. Proyect sculptures 18 m high for S.I.N., New York, N.Y. Galery at Mexican Embassy at Bern, Switzerland. Galery Mexican Embassy en Zurich, Switzerland. Galery Rudy Müller, Zurich, Suiza.
* 1984
Galeria de Arte Actual Mexicano, Monterrey, N. L.
* 1985
Invited by Arts Meridian to a Simposium about Art for the Américas, by the Stanford University of San Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.
* 1987
Works in experimental Proyects Sculpture in terracotta cerámic glassed with Museum Jorge Wilmont.
* 1988
Award Minerva de las Artes, Guadalajara, Jalisco.
* 1989
Foire Internacional D´Art Contemporain Grand Palais, París, France. (FIAC)
* 1990
Foire Internacional D´Art Contemporain Grand Palais, París, France. (FIAC) Dorsky Gallery, New York, N. Y., U.S.A.
* 1991
Foro Internacional Arte Contemporáneo, Bogotá, Colombia. Conference about influences and trends in Art.
* 1992
Foro International Contemporary Art, Caracas, Venezuela Conference about Racism in Art. International Forum of Contemporary Art, Bogotá, Colombia. Workshop with young Colombian artists. Invited as jury at International Movie Festival Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia. International Art Exposition, Miami, Fl., U.S.A. Designs scenery and costumes for the play "Paraíso" for the Monterrey N.L Ballet.
* 1993
Five Interactive Monumental Sculptures "La sala de los magos". Permanent Installation at the front of the Centro Cultural Cabañas en la Plaza Tapatía. Guadalajara, Jalisco. International Art Exposition, Miami, Fl., U.S.A. Jansen Gallery, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. Galery ARN, Zurich, Suiza.
* 1994
Award Jalisco de las Artes, Guadalajara, Jal. México.
* 1995
Award Arquitecture for the interactive installation, "La sala de los magos", Guadalajara, Jal. 94/95 Monumental Set of seven sculptures "Los Magos que Esperan". Privat Financial Group . Guadalajara, Jal. México.
* 1997Set of 8 Monumental sculptures called "La Rotonda del Mar"
Permanent installation at the el malecón, Puerto Vallarta, Jal. México. 97/98
Book about work of drawings big size. Guadalajara, Jal. México.
* 1998
Works in a Talavera project with utilitarian cerámic, Momic children jar, extraterrestrial children and furniture at the workshop "Talavera de la Reina" Puebla, Pue. Hall "Alejandro Colunga" permanent exposition devoted to his work of art, Amparo Museum, Puebla, Pue. Collection Group four pieces called "Sala de los Magos II". Patio central, Museo Amparo, Puebla, Pue. México.
* 1999
Regional Museum, "Abrazo Ancestral", Guadalajara, Jal. México. 99/00
Eight Monumental Sculptures Called "Los magos universales", Interaction Proyect. Plaza Tapatía, Guadalajara, Jal. México.
* 2000
Fountain "Los Magos del Sol" Set of five sculptures in bronze at the Plaza del Sol, Guadalajara, Jal. México. Experiment about astronomy with a Traditional Mexican chair (Equipal) with the coordination with the historiographer and researcher Martha Figueroa.
* 2001
Art and Fashion to tribute Alejandro Colunga "La Noche de Los Magos" at the esplanade Centro Cultural Cabañas, Guadalajara, Jal.
* 2002
Created the scenery, costumes, make-up and performance "Las Bodas del Cielo y El Infierno" theatrical play of William Blake at the Theater de las Artes at the Centro Nacional de las Artes at the Ciudad de México and Theater Degollado at Guadalajara, Jal. México. Installs a Monumental interactive sculpture, at the City Center Portland Oregon, U.S.A.
* 2003
Project for the new installation of 8 monumental sculptures for Puerto Vallarta, Jal.
* 2004
Exhibition at Galería Azul at Guadalajara.
* 2005
Participation as actor at the film "Sincronía" Guadalajara, Jal. Installation of eight Monumental Sculptures, for the Nassau Country Museum, Long Island, New York
Designs a set of sculptures for the awards to the most renown Football team
* 2006
Book about his work at ediciones Espejo de Obsidiana, in México City. Movie in process about his life and his work director from Rumania, Antoniu Moldovan. Documentary about his trips, life and work by Mexican tapatío director Juan Pablo Angel Guggenbuehl. Permanent Exposition at the Nassau County Museum Collection, Long Island, New York. Project of a set of Sculptures at the Los Magos Garden, based in games for children Works in a set of engraving great size at the Workshop Guacha Bato in collaboration with Sergio Ruiz. Recognition and Award at the Congress of the State of Jalisco, México. Recognition at Radio University of Guadalajara at Puerto Vallarta, México.
* 2007
Working on monumental sculptures for the Nassau County Museum, Long Island New York. Award Galardón Nacional "Ocho Columnas de Oro". Guadalajara, México
* 2008
Exhibition "Maravillas y Pesadillas" Museo de las Artes de La Universidad de Guadalajara and Instituto Cultural Cabañas. Tribute for his 40 years of trajectory, by the H. Ayuntamiento de Puerto Vallarta.
* 2010
Award Pedro Sarquís Merrewe Foundation
Award Guadalajara, given by the City of Guadalajara in a solemn City ceremony.

## Collectors

* Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona
* Berardo Collection Museum, Lisbon, Portugal
* San Antonio Museum of Art, San Antonio, Texas
* Nassau County Museum of Art, Long Island, NY
* Museo Amparo, Puebla, Mexico
* Museo Cabañas, Guadalajara, Jalisco