Alberto Beltrán

Alberto Beltrán was born in Mexico City and upon completing his primary education at the age of eleven was apprenticed as a tailor in his father's workshop. Around the same time he also enrolled at the Academy of San Carlos where he took evening classes in commercial art, studying with Carlos Alvarado Lang. From 1938 he studied at the Escuela de Arte Comercial (School of Commercial Art) while working in a graphic arts studio.

Early in his career Beltrán's made postcards and illustrated brochures and eventually established himself as a book and magazine illustrator. He founded two magazines, 'El coyote emplumado' and 'Ahí va el golpe', and later edited the arts section of 'El Día', a Mexican daily newspaper.

In 1944 Beltrán joined the Taller Grafica Popular. He contributed to the group's exhibitions and publications, including the twentieth anniversary print show at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Palace). After leaving the TGP in 1960 Beltrán turned to teaching. He was appointed Director of Fine Arts at the University of Veracruz from 1965 to 1966, and General Director of the Department for research into Popular Tradition at the Ministry of Education.