Exploring Mexico City’s cultural art spaces with Bloomberg Connects
October 15, 2024
Mexico City is a vibrant and exciting place to visit, and with the nickname “city of palaces” you know it’s a hotspot for arts and culture. It’s the oldest capital in the Americas and is full of art galleries and museums ready to inspire – housing everything from folk art to contemporary artwork. Neighborhoods, or “colonias”, like La Roma and Coyoacan are colorful canvases for iconic Mexican art.
8 museums and galleries to visit in Mexico City
With over 170 museums in Mexico City, you’re spoilt for choice. Here are 8 of the top museums in Mexico City for you to start exploring with Bloomberg Connects.
Artist’s houses
La Casa Azul (Frida Kahlo Museum)
Start with one of the most famous places in Mexico City – the Frida Kahlo house museum, or the Blue House as it’s known. The building was first acquired by Kahlo’s father in 1904, and was Kahlo’s birthplace. She later lived there with her husband Diego Rivera, who in 1957 donated the house and its contents to become a museum in Kahlo’s honor. It’s one of the most popular art museums in Mexico City and maybe so because it’s an opportunity to see how the famous Mexican artist lived – when you step inside, you are surrounded by the objects that inspired her. We recommend taking a 3D tour of the exhibition “Appearances can be deceiving: Frida Kahlo’s dress” and viewing some of the beautiful botanical items.
Note that app links work best on your smartphone with the Bloomberg Connects app downloaded.
Art and science museums
Museo MIDE (Museo Interactivo de Economia)
MIDE – the Interactive economics museum in Mexico City – opened in 2006 and is the world’s first museum dedicated to explaining economics, finance and sustainable development. It’s located in the historic center of Mexico City in a beautiful 18th century building that was originally a Bethlehemite convent and hospital. Set over four floors of this economics education museum, you can learn about finance in society, how the economy is more than just money, and how our activities impact nature.
Museo de Arte Popular
This Mexican folk art museum first opened in 2006 as a reference for Mexican decorative arts. It’s seen as the second most important art deco museum in Mexico City and includes a huge range of traditional Mexican crafts exhibits. But it is best known for the annual Noche de Alebrijes (Night of the Alebrijes) where large-scale models of fantastical creatures parade from the main plaza to the Angel of Independence monument.
Papalote Museo del Niño
This children’s museum is the perfect place for all ages to play and learn. It has been situated in the second section of the Chapultepec Forest since it was created in 1993 by architect Ricardo Legorreta who purposefully designed the building with, and for, kids. The museum brings together science, technology and art into a number of interactive exhibits and educational activities. We recommend the “My Body” exhibition where children can understand how their bodies work and how best to look after their health. There’s also “Mexico Alive” where you can explore the wonders of nature and climb the Ramon tree.
El Anahuacalli
El Anahuacalli, located in the San Pablo de Tepetlapa neighborhood of Coyoacán, was designed by the Mexican artist Diego Rivera and opened to the public in 1964. It is a true temple of the arts, with over 2000 pre-Columbian and pre-Hispanic artworks on display as well as an impressive ecological space. Rivera wanted to create a building that safeguarded his collection. With the app, you can begin to explore some of these beautiful works, why not start with the 360º tour through the 23 rooms, including close ups of the mosaics, displays, and ecological space.
Fundación AMMA
Amparo Espinosa Rugarcía and Manuel Serrano Espinosa founded Fundación Amparo y Manuel (AMMA) in 2003. Their mission is to promote culture and art through a collection of international contemporary art and traveling exhibitions – focused on the human figure and portraiture. The Foundation is currently closed to the public but you can enjoy the collection in their guide. We recommend browsing “Painting” including “The Day I Saw You” by Jenni Hiltunen, and “Sculpture” where you’ll find “SET VI” by Antony Gormley.
History museums
Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso
Also in the city center you can visit historic Mexican art exhibitions at San Ildefonso. Set in what was originally a national preparatory school for the University of Mexico, this building is now a museum where you can view historic murals made between the 1920s to 1940s by Mexican muralists. Among others you can see “Bolivarian Epic” by Fernando Leal, “The Conquest of Tenochtitlan” by Jean Charlot, and “The Spirit of the West” by David Alfaro Siqueiros.
Museo Memoria y Tolerancia
Museo Memoria y Tolerancia was founded in 2010 with the mission of spreading the importance of tolerance, non-violence, memory and human rights. It is a unique museum that invites us to tour through the historical happenings in the “Holocaust,” “Armenia,” “Rwanda” and others, to learn from history and reflect on our part in society’s future. In the “Tolerance” part of the museum you can learn more on the topics of stereotypes and prejudices, racism, ageism and more, with the overarching message that our differences enrich our lives.
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