French artist Alben debuts resin-encased ‘Accumulations’ at La Sala
When French artist Alben opened his latest exhibition, “Accumulations,” at La Sala Art Gallery, over 400 people attended.
The show highlights Alben’s unique process of encapsulating everyday objects—such as candies, toys, and religious symbols—in resin to create sculptures that explore memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time.
Alben’s background is rooted in graffiti and street art. A self-taught artist with more than 15 years of experience, he began by working with stencils, screen printing, and stamping. As his interests expanded, he began integrating sculptural techniques inspired by the Nouveau Réalisme movement, which emphasizes using found objects and materials. During his travels, Alben collects many of these items from flea markets, incorporating discarded objects into his pieces to anchor them in personal and collective histories.
- Work from French artist Alben is on view at La Sala Art Gallery through January 2025.Photo: Contributed
- From left, La Sala Art Gallery curator Laura García, and French artist Alben.Photo: Courtesy
- Work from French artist Alben is on view at La Sala Art Gallery through January 2025.Photo: Contributed
His paintings combine various cultural references, drawing from Pop Art and Classical art traditions. They often feature layered imagery of corporate mascots, historical figures, actors, comic book characters, and iconic artworks. By integrating these touchstones, Alben bridges the gap between popular culture and traditional aesthetics. This approach connects him to the legacy of French artist Arman, who presented commercial objects as sculptural works in the 1960s. However, Alben takes that concept further by transforming well-known artistic icons—like the Venus de Milo—into contemporary sculptures made from materials such as crushed Coke cans.
In doing so, Alben aims to provoke reflection on how everyday items can hold personal or cultural significance. He believes art is accessible to all viewers, and each piece can inspire an emotional or nostalgic response based on individual experiences.
“Accumulations” will be on view at La Sala Art Gallery until the end of January 2025, offering visitors a chance to see how forgotten materials and pop-culture imagery can be reimagined as timeless works of art.
Lee Steele is the founding director of Mérida-based Roof Cat Media S de RL de CV and has published Yucatán Magazine and other titles since 2012. He was Hearst Connecticut’s Sunday Magazine creative director and worked in New York City for various magazine publishers, including Condé Nast and Primedia, for over 20 years.
