Mar 18, 2023 - Jul 15, 2023

“Ambos Lados” is an exhibition of 158 prints from artists in six countries, primarily Mexico and the United States, including 18 artists from New Mexico and several Albuquerque artists. “Ambos Lados” translates as “both sides” in Spanish. The exhibition emerged out of a print exchange organized on both sides of the border by Manuel Guerra, Director of Horned Toad Prints in El Paso, and Adrian Aguirre and Beatriz Rivas of Taller Grafica Libre in Zaachila, Oaxaca. The prints and larger project emphasize the unity of artists and peoples across the political border of the United States and Mexico.

While there was no set theme for the exchange, many of the works explore political and social issues, specifically the border, while others are contemplative, humorous, or abstract. The print exchange, organized in 2018, was unjuried and open to anyone who wished to participate; the only rule for the exchange was a uniform print size. Prints have historically been made for broad distribution and they are an ideal medium for exchange as they are produced in multiples and easily packed, mailed, and dispersed. The prints included showcase a range of printing techniques including lithographs, serigraphs, relief, and intaglio. Egalitarian in nature, the project connected artists from a range of professional, ethnic, and geographic backgrounds, and the exhibition puts these perspectives in conversation. The prints emphasize how artistic expression is a unifying force across different kinds of borders and divides.