The city of Salinas, California, will host the traveling exhibition "Alebrijes & Nahuales Fantastic Animals from Mexico" from July 31 to September 4, 2026. The show features eight 20-foot colorful animal sculptures crafted in Oaxaca, Mexico, along with educational programming, interactive activities, and a miniature exhibit opening August 7 at One Main Street. The exhibition is organized by the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, curated by JC Gonzalez of the Urban Arts Collective, and produced by Romaine Greco, who also directs the Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico. The sculptures made their U.S. debut in San Francisco in 2025 and have since traveled to Reno, Fresno, San Jose, and Albuquerque.
This exhibition matters because it brings a major celebration of Mexican cultural heritage to Salinas, a city with a significant Latino population, and aligns with the city's 2026-2027 Public Art Plan. Supported by $200,000 from the municipal art fund, the event aims to boost local arts tourism, inspire young artists, and strengthen cultural and economic ties between Salinas and its sister city Guanajuato. It also highlights how smaller cities can leverage traveling public art to build momentum for their local arts scenes and create economic opportunities.