If you have the soul of an explorer, get ready, because the new Dr. Atl exhibition at MUNAL invites you on a visual journey through Mexico’s mountains and landscapes without having to leave the city.
Gerardo Murillo, better known as Dr. Atl, was not only an extraordinary painter but also a volcanologist, alchemist, poet, anarchist, muralist, and a true enthusiast of natural phenomena.
To celebrate the 151st anniversary of his birth, the National Art Museum has brought together around 130 works from public and private collections for the exhibition *Cosmic Energy of Matter*.
This exhibition, which is now open to the public, will invite you to reflect on the artist’s connection to the landscape and nature through three thematic strands: “Cosmic Theory,” “Modernisms,” and “Pictorial Technology.”
The artist is renowned for his landscapes featuring Mexico’s volcanoes and mountains. In this exhibition, you’ll see many of his iconic works on this theme; however, you’ll also discover his talent as a portrait artist.
The Secret of the Atlcolors and the Magic of Their Tools
One of the most fascinating sections of the tour will reveal his work as a scientist and materials experimenter.
It turns out that, in the early 20th century, the artist noticed that traditional oil paint yellowed over time and lost its vibrancy. His creative solution? To invent the legendary Atlcolors: solid paint sticks made from waxes, resins, oils, and pigments. This format allowed him to paint directly onto any surface and mix colors as if they were volcanic eruptions on the canvas.
In 1919, he attempted to market his invention to a company in California, but ultimately decided not to share his formula.
There are also personal items belonging to Dr. Atl
As if that weren’t enough, you’ll be able to admire up close the personal items that were part of his daily outdoor practice. You’ll see everything from his indispensable portable easel and painter’s palette to the Nescafé cans and jars he used to organize his belongings.
Also on display is a stereoscope, a visual instrument he used beginning in 1933 to achieve a sense of spatial depth and develop his iconic curvilinear perspective.
Prices, hours, and dates
Start planning your visit with your favorite person, because this spectacular exhibition will be on view through May 30, 2027. Remember that the museum is located at Tacuba 8, right in the heart of Mexico City’s Historic Center. You can visit Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- General admission: $95.
- Free admission: Applies to children under 13, people with disabilities, INAPAM members, and students or teachers with valid identification. Don’t miss this! On Sundays, admission is free for everyone.
Other exhibitions in Mexico City’s Historic Center
If, after seeing the new exhibition on Dr. Atl at the Munal, you still have the energy to embark on an artistic tour, here are our favorites in the city’s Historic Center.
First, we’d head to the Franz Mayer Museum to check out its latest exhibition, “AI: More Than Human.” Then, we’d head over to the Textile Museum of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Peoples, one of the venues that recently opened in Mexico City.
No list would be complete without a visit to the Perfume Museum, which offers awesome activities such as distillation workshops and scent tastings.
Find a companion and plan your tour!
