Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden welcomes 'ALEBRIJES: Creatures of a Dreamworld'
A vibrant exhibition featuring larger-than-life sculptures inspired by Mexican folk art is now on display at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden through Sept. 27.
The sculptures of "ALEBRIJES: Creatures of a Dreamworld" have not been displayed in a botanical garden previously, and this is their first appearance on the East Coast. ALEBRIJES is included with Garden admission and free for members.
Known for their vivid colors, intricate patterns and imaginative designs, alebrijes are fantastical creatures that combine features from various animals — real and mythical — into one-of-a-kind forms.
Originating in the 1930s with Mexico City artist Pedro Linares, alebrijes have become celebrated symbols of Mexican art and cultural expression. Each sculpture invites guests into a world where creativity and nature come together, with every painted feather, scale, and horn telling a story.
Sculptures that are part of the ALEBRIJES: Creatures of a Dreamworld exhibit at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden through Sept. 27, 2026. (Courtesy Tom Hennessy)
Created using the traditional Mexican art form of cartonería, the sculptures feature metal structures covered in papier-mâché and are brought to life with acrylic paint.
The exhibition showcases the work of artisans Edgar Camargo Reyes, Alberto Moreno Fernández, Alejandro Camacho Barrera and Perla Miriam Salgado Zamorano, whose pieces draw inspiration from the plants, animals, and natural landscapes that surround them.
