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A new exhibition featuring twenty-one interpretive bronze sculptures by renowned Mexican artist José Sacal opened on Dec. 4 at the Grand Art Gallery at Gran Plaza Outlets in Calexico, located at 888 W. Second Street. The event was organized by the Consulate of Mexico in Calexico, Gran Plaza Outlets, and the Sacal Foundation.
The opening reception included a presentation by Gregorio Luke, an expert on Mexican and Latin American art and a longtime friend of Sacal, followed by food, drinks, and musical performances.
Titled “José Sacal: A Universal Mexican,” the exhibition showcases medium-format sculptures inspired by historical figures and iconic works of art. The display includes Sacal’s sculptural interpretations of Picasso’s Guernica, Kahlo’s The Two Fridas, Munch’s The Scream, Velázquez’s Las Meninas, and reimagined elements of works by Georgia O’Keeffe. Other pieces reference Michelangelo’s David and Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
The exhibition also portrays figures associated with global political and cultural history, including Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Napoleon Bonaparte, Cuauhtémoc, Miguel Cervantes, Charlie Chaplin, Louis Armstrong, and Marcel Marceau. Organizers say the collection reflects Sacal’s distinctive style and his dialogue with both artistic and historical legacies.
Gregorio Luke recalled Sacal’s perseverance during his battle with a degenerative illness that impaired his speech and mobility but left his hands unaffected.
“It all started with him not being able to pronounce the words correctly,” Luke said. “He gradually lost everything… and the only thing that he didn’t lose was his hands. And he kept doing sculptures, trying to express what he was feeling.”
Luke noted that Sacal continued working despite his illness and was honored with a national tribute in Mexico. “Before he died, he finally did a self-portrait of himself, which is these two hands. And he called it Simplemente Yo — Simply Me. I’m proud to bring the work of José Sacal here, sharing it in a place that celebrates friendship between our countries and the hope of a better tomorrow.”
Head Consul Rocío Vázquez Álvarez of the Mexican Consulate in Calexico said the exhibition came to Imperial Valley after plans for a showing in Oxnard fell through.
“The exhibition had been at UC San Diego, and the Consul General in San Diego told me they were looking for another location. Oxnard was canceled, and we were able to convince them to bring it here,” Vázquez Álvarez said.
She added that Gran Plaza Outlets provided an ideal venue. “Sacal envisioned his art being accessible to everyday people, and a space with heavy foot traffic fulfilled that mission,” she said.
About José Sacal:
José Sacal (1944–2018) was a pioneering Mexican sculptor renowned for his imaginative reinterpretations of art and history. His work blends surrealism and expressionism, reimagining some of the world’s most iconic artworks and figures with a deeply personal and transformative perspective. Sacal’s sculptures have been celebrated internationally for their ability to connect historical, cultural, and contemporary narratives, offering viewers a fresh and unique lens on familiar masterpieces and personalities. Through his innovative approach, Sacal left a lasting impact on both Mexican and global art, inspiring new dialogues in sculpture and visual storytelling.
