FRAN DE ANDA

HERBARIA SOMNIORUM

solo exhibition

August 22nd - September 13th, 2026

Opening Reception: Friday, September 4th, 2026​

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Arch Enemy Arts presents HERBARIA SOMNIORUM by Fran De Anda, eight new works in oil and gold leaf that form “a chimeric catalog of specimens, who inhabit a world of dreams and visions.” Using traditional techniques to grind his own pigments, with playful characters atop grounds of metal leaf, De Anda’s work recalls the surreal absurdity of Medieval grotesques, religious iconography, and illuminated manuscripts. His stylistic approach and centralized compositions add solemn reverence to creatures that are filled with curious whimsy, encouraging viewers to see the magic in nature and remember the wonder of dreams. 

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“Before starting this series, I was dreaming about strange plants emerging from landscapes. I love discovering small details of nature, and on this occasion, the structure of things as small as a seed or the shape of a small fungus can form new and magical specimens. All of my work explores what would happen if we entered dream worlds, what kind of flora and fauna we could find there, and what symbolic meaning it could tell us. With this group of paintings, I hope the people who contemplate them might connect with the feeling of discovering something new, generating curiosity like when we were little and every discovery was magical and exciting.” - Fran De Anda

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Fran De Anda (b. 1979) lives and works in Mexico City. He studied Art and Design at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and has been exhibiting with Arch Enemy Arts since 2023. HERBARIA SOMNIORUM is De Anda’s third feature with the gallery, following his two-part series ALCHEMICAL CREATURES, which debuted in 2024 and 2025. 

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HERBARIA SOMNIORUM will be on view from August 22nd - September 13th, 2026
Sold works will begin to ship the week starting August 22nd, unless other rush shipping arrangements have been made. 

Items marked with a red dot have already been sold.

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