By Jodi Wagner

Renowned printmaker Alan Altamirano will exhibit “Exposición Individual Pardalina” in KU’s Sharadin Student Gallery from Oct. 4 to 7. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m.

The Oaxaca, Mexico native will be at KU from Oct. 4 to 17 where he will work in the print making studio and visit print making classes on campus.

Last winter break, fine arts students spent 17 days in Oaxaca. “[Students] worked with a group of talented young printmakers in Taller La Chicharra (Cicada studio),” said communication design professor Kevin McCloskey. This group of printmakers included Altamirano, also known as MK Kabrito.

Elaine Knox, junior, said, “Having the opportunity to travel to Oaxaca and study under Alan Altamirano was such a rewarding experience. I think that everyone can admire the detail he puts into his prints. While we were there, we all learned so much about Mexico’s culture, language and art.”

According to McCloskey, at the age of 16 Altamirano took classes in drawing and painting at the school of Fine Arts in Oaxaca at the age of 16, studying traditional printmaking techniques in woodcut.

He completed his artist-in-residency at Ceiba Grafica, Xalapa in Veracruz, Mexico and learned photopolymer etching and lithography in 2009.

Altamirano became an instructor and director at Taller La Chicharra after graduating from the University of Benito Juarez Autonomous, Oaxaca College of Fine Arts in 2010.

In 2011, Altamirano co-founded a graphic art studio entitled, “Gabinte Grafica” in Oaxaca.

McCloskey said, “By the time he was 25 years old, he had three solo exhibitions and over 20 group exhibitions.” His work has been entered in international printmaking competitions.

“I think having Alan come to KU is a great way for other students who did not attend the trip to experience and learn what I did in Oaxaca,” said Knox.

A KU Sesquicentennial grant and the fine arts and communication design departments fund this exhibit. To learn more about Altamirano, visit http://www.alanaltamirano.com.mx/index.