SANGFER WORKSHOP

Taller de Grabado Fernando Sandoval, also known as “Taller Sangfer,” was established in 1988 in the city of Oaxaca as a printmaking studio specifically dedicated to metal plate engraving and etching. In its early days, artist Maximino Javier provided Sandoval with his first printing press to launch production. During this period, artist Alejandro Santiago formally began working in the workshop alongside creators like Sergio Hernández, with whom he produced his first print series. In addition, renowned artists such as Francisco Toledo, Arnulfo Mendoza, Adriana Alaníz, and Maximino Javier were frequent collaborators at the studio. They were later joined by Rubén Leyva, Crispín Valladares, Leovigildo Martinez, Eddie Martinez, Emiliano López, Felipe Morales, Cecilio Sánchez, Carlomagno Pedro, Akiko Miyashita, Enrique Flores, and Álvaro Santiago—all prominent figures in the visual arts scene of Oaxaca and Mexico.

Taller Sangfer plays a crucial role in the history of Oaxacan printmaking due to its long trajectory and outstanding quality. It also preserves a major collection of master Francisco Toledo's graphic work, as the studio became his preferred workshop in his later years, with Fernando Sandoval serving as his trusted master printer.

In 2018, as part of a restructuring process, Taller Sangfer opened its exhibition space dedicated to showcasing contemporary art across various disciplines. Over the years, the studio's work has been included in numerous collections and exhibitions worldwide. In June 2022, it exhibited at Somers Gallery in London and at "El Chico," a local art space in Madrid, Spain, presenting works by more than 30 artists in a retrospective supported by the FPCC (Grant for Cultural Projects and Co-investments). In July 2023, the studio established a cultural partnership with Art Division, an art institute based in Los Angeles, California, hosting student exchanges, workshops, and exhibitions at its gallery, Craig Krull Gallery.

The workshop team includes master printer Jesús Sánchez Paz, who has worked in the space for over 30 years, along with his current assistant, Alan Abrego. Project management and general direction are led by Sofía Yukari and Sari Ponce. Digital Archiving & Media Management is managed by María Nana.

The gallery has collaborated with artists from Finland, Japan, and Mexico, focusing on multidisciplinary activities and exhibitions spanning photography, performance, music, and video art—thus broadening Taller Sangfer’s scope to encompass diverse artistic practices and cultural proposals in Oaxaca.