UCO’s Melton Gallery to Host Public Reception for 'José Sacal: Un Mexicano Universal,' March 5
Feb. 19, 2026
The University of Central Oklahoma’s Melton Gallery will host a free, public lecture and reception from 5-8 p.m., March 5, in celebration of its latest exhibition, “José Sacal: Un Mexicano Universal.”
The evening will begin with a lecture from 5-6 p.m. by Gregorio Luke, an expert on Latin American art and architecture, in the Liberal Arts building, Lecture Hall, L01. A reception and viewing of the exhibition in the Melton Gallery will follow. Light refreshments will be provided, and complimentary parking will be available in Parking Lot 7.
The exhibition features surrealist bronze sculptures by the late Sacal (1944-2018) and will be on display March 2-April 17.
Born in Cuernavaca, Mexico, Sacal studied at the National Institute of Fine Arts and has become one of the most significant contemporary sculptors in Latin America. In 2006, he became the first Mexican artist to have sculptures permanently installed in China. His work has been exhibited extensively throughout the world and is included in permanent collections in major cities, including Los Angeles, Shanghai and Mexico City.
"One of José Sacal´s deepest passions was to offer his talent and genius to new generations of artists,” said Rodolfo Quilantan, former Mexican consul.
“That his sculptures now find home at the prestigious University of Central Oklahoma stands as a tribute that keeps his spirit alive and allows his legacy to resonate beyond his lifetime."
To complement Sacal’s work, the Melton Gallery will also feature highlights from the Max Chambers Library Melton Legacy Collection, last exhibited to the public in 2015. Of note will be paintings by Edvard Munch and Grant Wood, as well as prints by Salvador Dali from the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) collection.
The exhibition is made possible through collaboration from CFAD, the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) and the Max Chambers Library, with special thanks to Quilantan for his work and cooperation in bringing the exhibit to UCO.
Bilingual interpretation of the exhibition will be provided by Guillermo Martínez-Sotelo, Ph.D., professor of Spanish in the UCO Department of Modern Languages and assistant dean for CLA, and Fernando Calvillo, guest curatorial assistant for the Melton Gallery.
For more information, contact Keri Smith, curator of the Melton Gallery, at 405-974-2432 or meltongallery@uco.edu. For more information, visit meltongallery.com.
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Cutline: The University of Central Oklahoma’s Melton Gallery will host a free, public lecture and reception from 5-8 p.m., March 5, to celebrate the exhibition, “José Sacal: Un Mexicano Universal.” The exhibition will feature surrealist bronze sculptures by the late artist, Sacal (1944-2018), March 2-April 17. Pictured,“El Cervantes” (2015, bronze) by Sacal. This sculpture was inspired by Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616), best known for “Don Quixote de la Mancha.” He is considered the first novelist and a major influence in Latin American literature. Image courtesy of Casa Studio Sacal.
