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.

Yula J. Cambronero-Bonilla, En la Sombra: Asimilación(top), Evasión (bottom), 2025. Photograph by Grace Austin

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.

IMPRINT, Dejo Mi Huella (I Leave my Trace), 2025. Photograph by Grace Austin.

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.

Opening Reception Artist Talk - Aug 26th, 2025