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, the City of Salinas will bring this extraordinary exhibition to Salinas in the fall of 2026. 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 will include educational programming, interactive activities for all ages, and abundant opportunities for photography and community engagement.

For more information, please visit the following links:

The official website: https://www.nahualesfromoaxaca.com.mx/

A YouTube short regarding the exhibition at Yerba Buena in San Francisco: https://youtube.com/shorts/VaAzZFQ_nGo

And a very good piece from PBS: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/tour-of-giant-brightly-colored-creatures-celebrates-artistic-heritage-of-oaxaca