Mater Admirabilis, painted by Mexican artist Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo

Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo (1923-2000) was a Mexican artist and painter, furniture designer and blacksmith. He was born on February 2, 1923 in Colima, Mexico. His unique style was largely shaped by his multifaceted work as a painter, collector, designer, graphic illustrator and set designer. He was the creator of a collection of Christmas cards that were circulated around the world and he received an award from Unicef. He also received other important awards for the Pre-Hispanic Angels and Angels of this world collection. In 1993 he received the Arts and Humanities award. He further developed his career as a designer when he founded the Escuela de Artesanías de Comala.

Upon his death in 2000, the University of Colima acquired the old sugar hacienda in the town of Nogueras that was his home, and established the Rangel Hidalgo museum and studio on its grounds, which today is known as the Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo University Museum. The site commemorates the life and work of this painter and includes a study center, an ecological park and a museum.

His mother, Concepción Hidalgo de Rangel, was a student at the Guadalajara boarding school, founded in 1896. She was very devoted to Mater Admirabilis and her son gave her this painting.

Awards and career path

• Founding of the Altamira School alongside Matías Goeritz
• Founding of the School of Architecture of the University of Guadalajara
• Founding of the School of Architecture of the University of Colima with Gonzalo Villa Chávez.
• Prize awarded by Unicef
• Colima Prize for the Arts (1993)
• Doctor Honoris Causa (1999) from the University of Colima