Description

Curated by John Cino 

December 13, 2025 – February 22, 2026 

Patchogue, NY — Patchogue Arts Council • Museum of Contemporary Art Long Island (PAC • MoCA L.I.) is proud to present Mexico; Past & Present — Works by Kelynn Z. Alder, on view December 13, 2025 – February 15, 2026 at MoCA L.I., 20 Terry Street, Patchogue, NY 11772. Curated by Senior Curator John Cino, this solo exhibition brings together paintings and prints that braid pre-Hispanic mythologies, living ritual, Indigenous languages, and contemporary iconography into what Alder describes as a “Mestiza mix.” Alder’s work opens a window onto the deep rooted culture of our neighbors across the southern border and next door’., John Cino, Sr. Curator and Program Director. Drawing from her Mexican and Mexican-American heritage, Alder connects ancestral knowledge to present-day life: fragments of Aztec codices and Maya glyphs mingle with Lotería numerals, the Virgin of Guadalupe, and the typography of everyday brands. The works honor ceremonial practices still enacted today—from Día de los Muertos observances in the highland Maya towns of Chamula and Zinacantán to the Lacandón Balché ceremony in the Chiapas rainforest—inviting viewers to consider tradition as a living practice. “As a Mexican American, I’ve inherited the gift of a wonderfully rich and complex culture,” says Alder. “Through image-making, I strive to connect my ancestors’ past with the present and to celebrate this eclectic coexistence.” “Alder’s paintings are layered bridges—between language and image, devotion and daily life,” notes Beth Giacummo, Executive Director. An additional exhibition of works will take place in one of PAC’s satellite gallery locations: Gallery @ SEPA Mujer will feature Kelynn Z. Alder; ICONS on view from December 18, 2025 – February 15, 2026 located at 110 North Avenue, Patchogue, NY 11772 About the Artist Kelynn Z. Alder is a Mexican-American artist whose practice interlaces pre-Hispanic mythology, Indigenous languages (including ongoing study of Nahuatl), and contemporary culture. Her work is currently on view at the National Museum of Mexican Art (Chicago). Recent projects include the solo exhibition Animal Spirits & Ancient Rituals at Gallery North and the award-winning exhibition SOMOS/WE ARE at the Long Island Museum (a Smithsonian affiliate), which Alder guest-curated to feature 82 Long Island Latinx artists. Alder is a founding member of Latino Arts of Long Island and co-founder of artmadehere.org. She has led free art workshops in underserved communities—particularly among Indigenous communities in Chiapas—and her editorial and documentary work spans The New Yorker, Coney Island sideshow portraiture, and field projects with Aboriginal elders in Australia and communities in Papua New Guinea. She earned her MFA from the School of Visual Arts (SVA), where she teaches drawing and painting, and is a member of the New York Society of Women Artists. Instagram: @kelynnalder • Website: kelynnalder.com