ON VIEW LUÍS JIMÉNEZ: MOTION AND EMOTION Opening January 16, 2021
Luís Jiménez, 1940 El Paso Texas - 2006 Hondo, New Mexico, Southwest Pieta, 1983, lithograph on paper, museum purchase, 1981 General Obligation Bonds
Luís Jiménez: Motion and Emotion These works on paper explore larger than life characters. DRAWINGS AND LITHOGRAPHS BY
political themes, and working class
LUÍS JIMÉNEZ—who masterfully depicted
heroes. He used unorthodox materials
the human figure—often focus on working-
such as fiberglass, glitter, and lights as
class and Chicano subjects. These works
way to engage with Chicano culture.
on paper from Albuquerque Museum's
While much of the sculpture of the '60s
permanent collection are infused with a
and '70s in the United States tended
sense of movement and vivacity.
toward abstraction and minimalism,
Luís Jiménez’s work covers a full
Jiménez boldly focused on the figure,
swath of human emotions; at times his
creating characters that were larger than
visual language is humorous, at other
life and impossible to overlook in the
moments, it is heart wrenching and
public settings where they were placed.
unabashedly political. His work often
His drawing skills were equally vibrant,
challenges viewers to confront myths
infused with a sense of movement
and issues surrounding la frontera (the
and action. Many of the drawings and
border) and the idea of cultural purity.
lithographs seen in this exhibition were
Jiménez became well-known through
later realized as sculptures, such as
his sculptures, which incorporate bold
Southwest Pieta, Border Crossing, and
colors, muscular figures, lively movement,
Sodbuster.
8
WINTER 2021
Art. History. People.
Luís Jiménez, 1940 El Paso, Texas - 2006 Hondo, New Mexico, Steve Jordan, 1984, lithograph on paper, ed. 7/40 museum purchase
