This week, I wanted to look at one of my favorite artists of all time, Alejandro Cardenas, and my experience as a huge fan.
Fall, 2015
One day in high school, I was randomly flipping through a WSJ magazine out of boredom, and came across a black and white drawing of Anubis and a cat lady whose name I didn’t know at the time. I stared at it and fell in love with the style, looking at every line and pattern, and being amazed at the level of detail. I’m not the type to collect pictures or snippets from magazines or online, but I didn’t want this picture to be lost forever, so I cut it out and saved it in my Graphic Design class folder. I would pull it out and stare at it or show it to my friends. I even made a whole comic for my class using the illustration’s style.
2016-2017
I held onto that piece, and a couple of months after I found it, I randomly came across another one. Again, I was mindlessly flipping through a WSJ magazine when I saw it. I remember getting really excited and immediately reaching for the scissors. I cut it out, stared at it, and saved it. From then on, I realized they might be a recurring thing, so I took note of the magazine’s title, and asked my mom to keep finding them for me when she could.
After saving four of these illustrations, I finally got to wondering who the artist was, and what the writing on the magazine spread was about. The information was there: illustrator Alejandro Cardenas credited at the top of the page, a caption naming Anubis, Bast, and their cat Who as the characters, and Kristina O’Neill credited as the writer, next to her essay and social media handles. As someone who’s not as interested in abstract writing and concepts, I realized the writing was something I would continue to leave out of the snippets. (No offense!) The illustrations, however, kept me wanting more.
A few questions and Google searches later, I found Alejandro Cardenas’s Instagram, followed him, and kept it at that.
June 8, 2017
My collection of illustrations had grown to five, and I was ecstatic. I loved the art so much, I wanted everyone to know, so I posted my little collection on one of my Instagram accounts. I did this more myself, and to share his account with whoever might see, but I did tag him directly. Surprisingly, he saw! I was so excited, I took screenshots of the notifications, and I still have the post archived and the comment with it.
“Thanks! [@kimbacandle] glad you like them!”
October 23, 2018
The Stars Within You: A Modern Guide to Astrology – written by Juliana McCarthy and illustrated by Alejandro Cardenas – was published. Immediately, it went on my wish-list, along with the prints and postcards of his illustrations for Aquarius. I’m not the biggest fan of astrology, but I jumped at the chance to gather anymore of Cardenas’s art.
February 1, 2019
For my birthday, I received the greeting card version of the Aquarius print from my friend Courtney. She was considerate enough to leave it blank, too. Heheh.
Fall 2020
After having gathered a thick pile of illustrations, I finally went to Michaels to buy a designated photo album to put Cardenas’s art in. The first page holds the greeting card, and it’s followed by the 45 cut-outs I saved.
I also finally purchased a signed copy of The Stars Within You: A Modern Guide to Astrology.
December 25, 2020
For Christmas, I gifted myself a special cookbook, and decided to post some of my favorite recent book purchases to my Instagram story and tag the authors, including Juliana McCarthy and Alejandro Cardenas. I also posted a video of my album of his work. He saw it!
AC: “Wow that’s so cool!! I don’t even have that! 😂“
Me: “😂 I had stumbled across the first 3 by accident and liked them so much I cut them out, and then I never stopped collecting them. 😅”
AC: “That’s amazing!”
And he shared my story to his.
June 2021
Alejandro Cardenas finally wrapped up his time illustrating for WSJ after 99 issues. From here, he has gone on to focus on his fine art (as well as his family). He currently creates abstract, dreamlike paintings and sculptures, and has exhibited in various galleries in the US and Europe. Cardenas is represented by Almine Rech.
October 2022
While doing research for this blog, as well as a Web Design 2 assignment, I learned more interesting facts about Alejandro Cardenas, and continue to be inspired. As I write this, I’m listening to the Swirlies – a band that Cardenas enjoys and takes inspiration from. (I listen to whatever music artists I admire recommend – from classmates, to professors, to celebrities.)
I don’t expect to ever meet Alejandro Cardenas – although it’d be super cool if I did! – but he has been a huge inspiration to me, and has revealed parts of the world of fine art that I never would have found or appreciated otherwise.
That is all.
For more information on Alejandro Cardenas, you can follow the links below.
Instagram: @a.cardenas
Website: alejandrocardenas.studio (under construction)
Almine Rech page: alminerech.com/artists/6938-alejandro-cardenas