UCO Remembers José Sacal in a New Melton Gallery Exhibition “Un mexicano universal”

The Melton Gallery is hosting a dual lecture and exhibition featuring José Sacals “Un mexicano universal” in the University Of Central Oklahoma Liberal Arts Lecture Hall (LAS L01) from 5-6 p.m. and Melton Gallery from 6-8 p.m. on March 5.

Guest speaker from Mexico City, Gregorio Luke, curator and expert in Latin American art, will present a lecture from 5–6 p.m. in the Liberal Arts Lecture Hall (LAS L01). A reception in the Melton Gallery will follow from 6–8 p.m.

According to the Melton Gallery, this exhibition is made of 21 bronze sculptures to honor José Sacal, one of Mexico’s most celebrated modern artists from 1944–2018 before he passed away due to leukemia. The international exhibition features some of Sacal’s surrealist sculptures that reflect his expressive style, humanist themes and global artistic legacy. This exhibition is presented in collaboration with the UCO College of Fine Arts and Design, College of Liberal Arts, and Special Collections & the University Archives at Chambers Library. Bilingual interpretation will be available in English and Spanish for all attendees.

According to the Melton Gallery, Sacal was born in Cuernavaca, Mexico and studied at the National Institute of Fine Arts. Translated from his biography, he then entered the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) where he began his medical studies. This experience gave Sacal the knowledge of human anatomy that is displayed in many of his works. At 24, he began working as a fashion designer, visiting cities like Paris, Rome and New York. From that moment, Sacal considered himself a citizen of the world.

Keri Smith, Curator of Galleries and Collections at the College of Fine Arts and Design, said that Sacal was the first Mexican artist to have a permanent monumental installation in China and Israel, but Sacal has also showed his work in Korea, Italy and many other international galleries. Today, his sculptures can be found in public spaces and permanent collections in cities such as Los Angeles, Shanghai and Mexico City.

It was through this perseverance and the inspiring encouragement of Sylvia Sacal, his wife, that his work gradually gained recognition and a stronger presence in the world of art (translated from his biography).

Smith says that this show is unlike most of the galleries that the Milton has shown for this fiscal year. While many of the shows from last July until June of this year follow the theme of displaying 3D-art and sculpted works, Smith mentions that this is the first time the gallery has had the chance to honor a deceased artist. She also says that this is actually the second time this collection has found its way into Oklahoma, as it was originally displayed at the Governor’s Gallery at the state capitol in 2021 before moving to Calexico, California.

This show was provided to the Melton Gallery at no cost to the university through Guillermo Martinez Sotelo, professor of Spanish and assistant dean for the College of Liberal Arts at UCO. Martinez had made contact with Rodolfo Quilantán Arenas, the former Cónsul General of México, who had the sculptures in exhibit. Smith said that by presenting this show to more universities, Quilantán hopes more people can learn about José Sacal.

“Their goal with championing him was to acknowledge someone who, in their life, made massive accomplishments and maybe didn’t see the international acclaim for those that they felt they deserved,” said Smith.

Much of Sacal’s work shown in this collection is inspired by iconic artworks and influential figures, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Edvard Munch’s The Scream, and historical figures such as Frida Kahlo, Miguel de Cervantes, Albert Einstein, and Abraham Lincoln.

To complement the exhibition, Smith said that the Melton Gallery will also present select works from the Melton Legacy Collection, housed within Special Collections & the University Archives at Max Chambers Library. This will include paintings and prints by Edvard Munch, Grant Wood, and Salvador Dalí, which Smith said have not been seen by the public for 15 years due to how old and fragile they are.

“There’s a lot of things in here that people would see and go ‘Yeah, I know that’ ” said Smith.

She continues that even if those who attend the exhibition do not know a lot about art, the references to other well known artists and icons will allow attendees to relate to the art more and appreciate it.

On the communications team, Smith was the only individual who did not speak Spanish. Because the show was coordinated by Mexican nationals, Smith brought in Fernando Calvillo, a hispanic curator from Oklahoma City who has experience in another nonprofit art program. According to Smith, Calvillo did a lot of the interpretive label writing for the Sacal exhibition.

“This show was done for Mexicans by Mexicans…my job has been to pick stuff up and put stuff down, but the event [and the] presenter coming from Mexico City…has really been done to honor Mexican culture.” Said Smith.

Smith also works almost entirely alone when setting up galleries. She has a small team that consists of McKenzie King, UCO Art History and Melton Curatorial Intern and two student workers: Hutton Coker and Jadyn Pruitt. The UCO Department of Art Studio Technician, Nathan Kent, also contributed a lot of help placing the heavy bronze on display.

The sculptures were shipped to UCO on Monday, Feb. 23. Since their arrival, Smith and the student workers have been unboxing the crates and working on the displays in preparation for a soft opening of the gallery Monday, March 2 before the big opening on Thursday.

“I have been [at UCO] for three years, and this is the most museumy show we have done…shows like this are not something we would do very often because they are a huge undertaking and [we] are a small team.” Said Smith.

The schedule for the events are as bellow, provided by the UCO calendar :

Public Lecture:

• Guest Speaker: Gregorio Luke, curator and expert in Latin American art
• Date: March 5, 2026
• Time: 5–6 p.m.
• Location: Liberal Arts Lecture Hall (LAS L01)

Exhibition Reception:

• Date: March 5, 2026
• Time: 6-7 p.m. (Immediately following the public lecture)
• Location: Melton Gallery (inside the Art and Design Building, Room 109)
• Refreshments: Light refreshments provided

Admission: Free and open to the public

Parking: Complimentary parking available in UCO Lot 7