
Guardians of the Threshold
Original Artwork by artist Zabdiel Martinez
In Jungian depth psychology, archetypes serve as psychic structures from the unconscious, guiding seekers through self-reflection. Each archetype acts as a guardian, not blocking passage but questioning and teaching, representing stages of transformation and the soul's trials.
Zabdiel Martinez, a self-taught artist from Oaxaca, Mexico, explores the symbolism of influential archetypes such as the Japanese dragon, Greek sphinx, celestial angel, and the lion with a female figure. His drawings evoke the journey toward hidden knowledge and the esoteric realm, posing questions about what lies beyond the threshold of the unknown.
These archetypes, often seen as protectors of sacred doors, resonate with the collective unconscious. The Sphinx challenges the traveler to confront their own nature. The Angel acts as a bridge, elevating consciousness and connecting the material with the spiritual. The Japanese Dragon symbolizes inner power and balance, while the Woman and the Lion represent the harmonious integration of strength and wisdom.
Martinez's exhibition invites viewers to explore their own thresholds and the energies that guard their access to knowledge and transformation. Through his art, he encourages participation in the ritual of self-discovery, transforming observers into travelers of their own mysteries.


Guardians of the Threshold
Join us for the fifth art exhibition of 2025, featuring Oregon-based artist
Zabdiel Martinez
Opening Reception:
Thursday, July 31, 2025
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
About
Zabdiel Martinez
Exploring the boundaries of the tangible and the ethereal,
Zabdiel Martínez immerses himself in a journey of self-
discovery through his images. With lines that reflect the
mystery of the universe and forms that oscillate between
the material and the immaterial, his work invites us to
contemplate the invisible and question conventional realities.
Inspired by the teachings of mysticism, philosophy, spiritual traditions, and mythological sources where archetypes and sacred narratives reveal profound truths of the human soul, his artistic practice seeks to dissolve the barriers between the inner and the outer, between the rational and the intuitive. In this process, Zabdiel Martínez creates not only images, but also spaces for silence, reflection, and self-knowledge.
His work doesn’t aim to offer definitive answers, but rather to pose essential questions: What is real? Where does the sacred reside? What lies beyond ordinary perception? In times marked by acceleration and distraction, his art reminds us that stopping, observing, and feeling are also acts of resistance and profound wisdom.





















