Colores de Colorado: Alebrijes Telling Colorado’s Story Centro Cultural Mexicano DBA Mexican Cultural Center

This project brings Colorado's layered histories to life through alebrijes, which translates to fantastical animal sculptures rooted in Mexican folk art that invite curiosity, imagination, and wonder. Traditionally crafted from papier-mâché or wood and painted in dazzling colors, alebrijes embody both myth and identity. Audiences will be drawn into a world where beauty, symbolism, and cultural meaning converge.

The story of alebrijes resonates deeply with Colorado's own history. Southern Colorado was once part of Mexico, and its early Hispanic settlements still reflect that legacy. This project will tell the story of some of Colorado's earliest settlers and beyond. San Luis, founded in 1851 by Hispanic families from Taos, is Colorado's oldest continuous town. These communities shaped the state's livestock economy, preserved traditions of faith and family, and contributed lasting cultural values. Even after the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo shifted the border, families retained strong ties to their Mexican identity. Leaders like Casimiro Barela, one of Colorado's first Mexican American state senators, safeguarded bilingual representation in Colorado's Constitution.

By situating monumental alebrijes within this historical context, the project creates powerful, lasting entry points for audiences. Art becomes a bridge, helping visitors connect emotionally and visually to historical narratives that may otherwise feel abstract or distant. Through these vibrant sculptures, Coloradans are invited to celebrate both our state and the diverse nation we call home.

Alebrijes, the fantastical and colorful sculptures born out of Mexican imagination, serve as powerful cultural symbols of resilience, identity, and creativity. In the context of Colorado's 150th anniversary, they embody the ways in which immigrant communities have continually enriched the cultural fabric of our state. Colorado's history is one of migration, labor, and cultural exchange — from the early Mexican and Chicano settlers who shaped the agricultural and mining economies, to today's diverse Latino, Indigenous, and immigrant communities whose traditions remain vital to Colorado's story.

By commissioning our own mobile alebrijes exhibit, we will bring this tradition into a Colorado context, creating artworks that travel across the state and connect with audiences of all ages. These moving sculptures become more than art objects — they become vehicles for storytelling, belonging, and pride. For communities of color, the alebrijes reflect both ancestral heritage and the evolving narrative of what it means to be part of Colorado. For the broader community, they invite wonder, dialogue, and recognition of the multicultural layers that define our shared past, present, and future.
Our proposed mobile alebrijes will be uniquely rooted in Colorado by combining elements of animals native to our state. Just as traditional alebrijes fuse together fantastical creatures from the imagination, these sculptures will draw inspiration from Colorado's own wildlife — such as elk, bison, bears, mountain lions, eagles, and trout. In doing so, the alebrijes will reflect both the Mexican artistic tradition and the natural heritage of Colorado's mountains, plains, and rivers.

By incorporating these native animals, the project creates a powerful bridge between cultural expression and place-based identity. These Colorado alebrijes will serve as symbols of belonging, reminding communities of color that their traditions are not separate from Colorado's history, but woven into it. At the same time, they will invite all Coloradans to celebrate a shared natural and cultural legacy during the state's 150th anniversary.
At their core, alebrijes are fantastical creatures born of imagination — brightly colored beings that merge many forms into something entirely new. In this way, they mirror Colorado's own story: a place shaped by diverse peoples, traditions, and landscapes coming together to create a shared identity. By reimagining alebrijes with elements of animals native to Colorado, we honor our history while opening space for new narratives of inclusion.

In 2014, we commissioned Xólotl: Dios Perro, a monumental 14-foot alebrije inspired by Colorado's dog-friendly culture; known as the "God Dog," he is a fantastical mix of dog, dragon, lion, and hawk whose vibrant colors and intricate patterns invite all in, sharing the beauty of our heritage as he travels in exhibitions across the country. When the artists from the Museo de Arte Popular first traveled to Colorado to begin their research for our monumental alebrije commission, they immersed themselves in the landscapes and everyday culture of our state. One detail that stood out to them immediately was Colorado's deep love for dogs. Everywhere they went — in parks, cafés, and neighborhoods — they noticed how dogs were not only plentiful, but treated like family, royalty, even like gods. We plan to commission the same master artists from the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City who created Xólotl: Dios Perro to design and build a new series of 5-10 mobile alebrijes. Utilizing the keen eye of the artists these proposed alebrijes will be Colorado-inspired with inspiration being taken from native animals. These works will form the foundation of a traveling alebrijes exhibit, created with the same artistry and authenticity that have made our monumental alebrije such a treasured part of our collection.

Over the years, we have been honored with invitations to exhibit Xólotl in many beautiful and significant places across Colorado, including the Governor's Mansion. However, because of his monumental size and specialized installation needs, opportunities to share him are limited. By contrast, a set of mobile alebrijes will allow us to bring this tradition to more diverse communities and spaces across the state — schools, libraries, cultural centers, and public events — making the experience more accessible, engaging, and inclusive for a wider audience across Colorado.
This project will ensure that alebrijes continue to serve as vibrant cultural ambassadors, weaving together Colorado's sesquicentennial reflection with a message of creativity, heritage, and belonging that can truly travel to where the people are.

Through workshops and community-based design, this project empowers local artists and families — especially youth from historically marginalized communities — to see themselves reflected in Colorado's sesquicentennial commemoration. Just as alebrijes blend elements of many animals into one fantastical whole, Colorado's history is a blending of many peoples, traditions, and experiences. Commissioning these mobile alebrijes ensures that communities of color are not only represented but celebrated as essential contributors to Colorado's legacy, while inspiring a collective sense of belonging as we imagine the next 150 years together.

As we celebrate Colorado's 150th anniversary, these mobile alebrijes will stand as symbols of hope and belonging, reminding us that our communities are strongest when all voices are seen, valued, and celebrated. Just as the alebrijes invite us to dream beyond boundaries, this project envisions a Colorado where cultural heritage and collective imagination guide us toward the next 150 years of unity, creativity, and pride.

Event activities include:

• Hands-on workshops where children and families can design their own miniature alebrijes.
• Storytelling sessions highlighting legends, folk tales, and the origins of alebrijes.
• Live music and dance performances that showcase Mexican and Latino traditions.
• Educational sessions presented in partnership with cultural and civic organizations to share resources, history, and community engagement opportunities.
• Hands-on workshops where individuals may help build the alebrijes that will be exhibited
• Exhibits in various parts of Colorado

We welcome multigenerational families, students, educators, artists, and community members of all backgrounds to participate. The event is free and bilingual (English/Spanish), ensuring accessibility for all. By gathering in celebration of alebrijes, participants will not only encounter extraordinary works of art but also gain a deeper appreciation of the histories, traditions, and cultural identities that continue to shape Colorado today.