Vivinavi : Denver : (United States) Denver

The Skeletal World of José Guadalupe Posada presents the work of the iconic 19th-century Mexican artist and lithographer whose illustrations of skeletal figures known as "calaveras" and "catrinas" have become an essential part of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations.

Featuring a select set of Posada’s prints, including many of his most famous calaveras, Skeletal World also includes art that showcases his enduring legacy. Posada’s lithographs have influenced many Latin American and Latino artists, cartoonists, and creators because of the satirical depth and acuteness of their social commentary. As one of the most prolific printmakers in Mexico, Posada used skulls, calaveras, and bones to engage in political critiques about everything from social injustice to corruption. One of his most enduring works is La Calavera Catrina, now associated with Día de los Muertos.

Curated by Jorge F. Rivas Pérez, Frederick and Jan Mayer Curator of Latin American Art, the show highlights a treasure in the museum’s deep collections, a gift of Posada’s prints by Denver artist and art history professor Charles Frederick Ramus (1907-1979), a life-long admirer and collector of Posada's work. It is on view October 29, 2023, through May 12, 2024.