Denuncia y Arte: Efrén Maldonado’s New Art Exhibit is a Must-See
Born in 1950 in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Efrén Maldonado proudly claims his Jarocho roots. But Efrén, as he prefers to be called, also identifies as a “defector from Oaxaca” and an adopted Yucatecan, after settling down in Mérida a decade ago.
This blend of coastal effervescence and tropical sobriety is evident in his works, which often feature a dialogue between the coast’s explosive colors and the Peninsula’s history.
Far from the classic academic career, his path to art was by no means a straight line. As a young man, Efrén always wanted to study architecture or painting, but, guided by his father’s more pragmatic advice, he ended up as a public accountant, a profession he describes as “boring as a pile of bricks,” but that provided him with security in the early years of his career.
However, his passion for drawing was a natural and surfaced early on. His career as an artist took off when he entered the country’s newsrooms: first at Revista de Revistas, then at Proceso, and finally at El Universal, where he learned the trade by observing great colleagues like Magú and other members of the so-called “Mexican School of Caricature.”
El Gato Cutlo (cultured cat) is a feline with a minimalist appearance, always accompanied by a sharp, critical, or sarcastic phrase.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Efrén Maldonado is what some may call an equal-opportunity offender, as he takes jabs at cultural and political figures from across ideological and political lines.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
As the name implies, Efrén Maldonado’s exhibit Denuncia y Arte not only features political cartoons but also colorful works of art.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
While not an environmentalist per se, Efrén Maldonado often veers into critiques of the government’s management of nature.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Efrén Maldonado has long been a critic of Mexico’s national oil company, Pemex; a fact visible to all in his current exhibit in Mérida.Photo: Carlos Rosado van der Gracht / Yucatán Magazine
Forging a Visual Language and Identity
What makes Efrén Maldonado’s work unique is his ability to balance scathing criticism with a deep-rooted sense of humor. During a radio interview, he defined his work as “critique with humor,” placing his talent at the service of citizens rather than at the seats of power.
His commitment to independence has earned him a spot in the collective national dialogue. Proof of this is that in 1985, he received the National Journalism Award, one of the highest honors in his discipline, solidifying his prestige as a creator who questions and, above all, exposes the hypocrisy of politicians and public figures across all ideologies. To put it simply, no one, regardless of their party affiliation or ideology, is safe from Efrén.
His extensive career includes collaborations in Diario de Yucatán, Proceso, Canal 13, and his popular radio program El Columnista, broadcast through the Instituto Mexicano de la Radio (IMER) in Yucatán.
Since 2004, his voice has resonated daily on the airwaves, while his drawings—particularly his famous El Gato Culto—continue to appear across Grupo Fórmula’s media. The latter figure, a reflection of a cynical and erudite observer, has become one of the most recognizable icons of modern Mexican criticism.
Like virtually all political caricature artists, Eduardo del Río, better known simply as Rius, has a clear influence. As it happens, both Maldonado and Rius were part of the humor magazine La Garrapata (The Tick), where Efrén Maldonado took on the role of director from 1979 to 1981.
Efrén: Denuncia y Arte
The exhibition Efrén: Denuncia y Arte encapsulates the facets of his work and personality. The project, which opened during Mérida’s most recent Noche Blanca, will be open to the public through October. A group of journalists and writers, including prominent figures such as Vicente Leñero, who contributed a critical text that frames the exhibition and whose words guide visitors through the artist’s career, participated in its curation.
The exhibition brings together more than 50 years of Efrén’s creative life. The first hall is a review of his journalistic work, where the public can see his most famous political cartoons published across national media.
Here, the presidents of modern Mexico parade, from the authoritarianism of Gustavo Díaz Ordaz to the current administration of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, each with their characteristic qualities and vices captured by the artist’s pen.
It also features a collection of illustrations of popular culture icons, including Armando Manzanero and Frida Kahlo.
However, the true surprise of the exhibition lies in the third room, dedicated to painting. With oils and mixed techniques, Efrén abandons the front page of the newspaper to show his more classically artistic side.
Efrén Maldonado’s new exhibit demonstrates that this talent is not limited to daily denunciation but also includes a brilliant mastery of composition.
Entrance to Efrén Maldonado’s Denuncia y Arte is free at Mérida’s Olimpo Cultural Center, on the corner of Calle 62 and 61, Centro.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht, PhD, is a journalist, photographer, and expedition leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada, and Norway. Most recently, he earned a doctorate in Heritage Studies in 2026.
