Founded in 2002 by Chicago-born artist Alex Agudo, Monsieur Pamplemousse is shaped by color, culture, memory, and a lifelong love of design.
From ages 8 to 12, Alex lived in El Empalme, Ecuador, where vibrant flora, fauna, and daily rhythms sparked his connection to color and nature. After returning to Chicago, his artistic world deepened through the city’s rich history and iconic architecture. Visionaries such as Zaha Hadid, Frank Lloyd Wright, fellow Illinoisan Jeanne Gang, Frank Gehry, and Antoni Gaudí continue to influence his movement, forms, and sense of flow.

His passions for languages (he speaks more than five), culture, fashion, history, anthropology, and all forms of art further shaped his creative lens. And as a multicultural city where these worlds converge, Chicago nurtured his curiosity while expanding his knowledge and artistic identity.

Alex’s heritage reflects the deep diversity of Latin America.
Though both of his biological parents are Mexican by nationality, their lineages reveal Mexico’s complex ethnic mosaic: a Mother of Afro-Indigenous heritage, and a biological father of Filipino, Spanish, and Indigenous roots. He was raised by his Ecuadorian father, whose love, values, and culture profoundly shaped him.
His story reflects a truth he proudly carries: Latinos come in many shades, histories, and blends — each one beautiful and complex.

Today, Rio de Janeiro is Alex’s second home and yearly creative refuge, inspiring the rhythm, warmth, and tropical boldness found throughout his work. The beaches of Ipanema, the curves of Oscar Niemeyer’s architecture, the colors of Santa Teresa, and the lushness of Parque Lage continuously inform his palette and sense of movement.

His creative process is rooted in the five senses:
music from Ecuador, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond;
the grounding aroma of Brazilian or Ecuadorian coffee;
flowers, cultural symbols, and travel artifacts surrounding his workspace;
the textures of gemstones and metals guiding his hands;
and fragrances that unlock memory and emotion.
Each sense becomes part of the narrative behind every piece.

Alex’s designs blend mixed metals, asymmetry, architectural influence, and vibrant gemstones — reflecting both the organic imperfections of nature and the structured poetry of global architecture. Influences from Brazil, Ghana, India, Mexico, Ecuador, and the Middle East weave through his collections, creating jewelry that feels both personal and global.

A multidisciplinary artist — dancer, florist, photographer, historian, art teacher, and Pilates instructor of more than twenty years — Alex infuses movement, ritual, and soul into everything he creates.

At the heart of his brand is a simple belief:

“I create jewelry for the person who feels a connection to its story.
If it calls to you, it was meant for you — crafted to be as unique as the one who wears it.”