On View
Essential Adaptations: Printmaking from Costa Rica
October 28, 2025 - February 13, 2026
The Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery is pleased to present Essential Adaptations: Printmaking from Costa Rica, on view October 28, 2025 to February 13, 2026.
Developed in collaboration with Irene Carvajal, Senior Lecturer in Pictorial Art and
director of a faculty led program to Costa Rica, this project explores the ways in
which Costa Rican artists arrive at authentic materials for printmaking through processes
of creative reuse, recycling, and individual materials development.
Featuring work by Vicente Alpízar-Jiménez, Adrián Arguedas, Yula J. Cambronero-Bonilla,
Carolina Córdoba Zamora, Rudy Espinoza, Alberto Murillo-Herrera, Emilia Prieto Tugores,
Raquel Valverde Rodríguez, Alejandro Villalobos Cabezas and IMPRINT, this exhibition
explores the past, present and future directions of Costa Rican printmaking through
a focus on innovative techniques and processes.
This diverse group of artists is united not only by their Costa Rican heritage, but
by their interest in print media and commitment to experimentation and sustainable
processes. The works featured in this exhibition explore themes of identity and cultural
memory, gender, power, and social critique and engage in cultural commentary. All
the while, they push the boundaries of traditional printmaking approaches by utilizing
the spirit of “Macgyvering,” or making do with what is at hand. This creative part
of Costa Rican identity is born out of environmental and economic concerns– most art
supplies are imported, heavily taxed, difficult to procure and often are toxic or
harmful. The solution reflects Costa Rica’s environmental awareness by finding sustainable,
locally sourced, natural substitutes in lieu of petroleum based products. For the
participating artists this has manifested in methodological investigations aimed at
a more sustainable, affordable and homegrown art making process.
In addition to showcasing the work of contemporary artists, this exhibition also traces
the history of Costa Rican printmaking and includes objects loaned by the Museo de
Arte Costarricense (Costa Rica Museum of Fine Arts). We are grateful for their collaboration
and support of this exhibition.
Alena Sauzade, Gallery Director
Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery, San José State University
This exhibition is co-sponsored by the Natalie and James Thompson Gallery and the
College of Humanities & the Arts Artistic Excellence Programming Grant.
