Cerritos College Art Gallery Announces “Ecosystem” Installation by Pavel Acevedo
The Cerritos College Art Gallery will feature “Ecosystem,” a new installation by contemporary relief printmaker Pavel Acevedo, from March 9 to March 27, 2026. The exhibit is part of the gallery’s “Window Dressing” program, a series of short-term installations held in the Projects Room space, emphasizing craft, process, and performative actions.
Acevedo’s Artistic Focus
Originally from Oaxaca, Mexico, Acevedo’s operate explores themes of migration, identity, and cultural hybridity. His practice is rooted in his Oaxacan heritage and his experiences as an immigrant in the United States, drawing inspiration from pre-Hispanic codices, folk art traditions, and contemporary urban life. His imagery often features animals like raccoons, rats, and coyotes, representing creatures that thrive even in challenging urban environments.
“Ecosystem” Installation Details
“Ecosystem” combines new and existing carved plywood and linoleum prints depicting plants, animals, and hybrid characters. Acevedo will collaborate with printmaking students and visitors to develop an evolving installation of printed paste-ups, creating a fantastical landscape. The artwork aims to express creative energy and assert agency within migrant experiences, weaving together ancient visual traditions and modern narratives to highlight continuity, resilience, and transformation.
Artist Background
Pavel Acevedo holds a BFA from Escuela de Bellas Artes Oaxaca and received earlier training at the Rufino Tamayo Workshop. He is based in Southern California and operates Urge Palette Art Supplies in downtown Riverside, which serves as both his studio and a creative hub.
Community Engagement and Previous Work
Acevedo has a strong background in arts education, having worked with organizations such as Self Help Graphics, Plaza de la Raza, Breesee Foundation, Riverside Art Museum, and I Learn America. He has completed residencies at Beyond the Press at Self Help Graphics, KALA Art Institute, Fullerton College, College of the Canyons, and Horned Toad Print Shop. He has also created murals for Chaffey College, La Sierra University, and the city of Riverside, as well as for We Rise LA and Self Help Graphics.
Recognition and Collections
Acevedo’s artwork is included in public collections at The Cheech Center for Chicano Art and Culture, Center for the Study of Political Graphics, the Wignall Contemporary Museum, Mexic-Arte, Museum of El Paso, the Huntington Library, and the Thomas J. Watson Library at the MET.