El Alebrije, An Uncommon History

Today, the Alebrijes are a symbol of Mexico, a tradition rooted in the collective memory and an indispensable part of the artisan world. These fantasy creatures are made with cardboard or papier-maché in Mexico City or are carved in wood in the State of Oaxaca, south of Mexico.

For 10 consecutive years, the Museum of Popular Art (MAP) has organized a parade of Alebrijes Monumental that has been seen by more than 15,000,000 spectators and has become a reference and “trademark” of MAP and Mexico.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the MAP and its valuable collection of Alebrijes presents this small sample of the fantastic iconography of Mexico, the wonderful imagination of its creators and the joyful and daring palette of which we are proud representatives. Mexico shares a distinguished example of its folk art for the enjoyment of all travelers who meet and meet at the Mexican Cultural Institute in San Antonio. A city open to art and sensitive to tradition that goes hand in hand with constant innovation.