After seven years, the National Museum of Art (MUNAL) is reopening the galleries dedicated to its permanent 20th-century collection with a completely revamped presentation. The exhibition *Art and Visuality in Modern Mexico* offers a fresh perspective on one of the most important collections of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature (INBAL), bringing together iconic works and pieces that have not been on display for years.
The exhibition covers the period from 1890 to 1950, a key era for understanding how Mexico imagined and built its modernity. Beyond painting, the exhibition incorporates photography, film, prints, posters, and illustrated magazines to demonstrate that visual culture also played a leading role in shaping the country’s identity.
A New Way to Explore Modern Mexican Art
The exhibition brings together works by artists such as Diego Rivera, María Izquierdo, Roberto Montenegro, Dr. Atl, Lola Álvarez Bravo, and Lola Cueto, while also inviting visitors to discover lesser-known pieces and new connections between different artistic disciplines.
Rather than presenting a narrative focused solely on the so-called “Fine Arts,” this renewed curatorial approach proposes understanding modern Mexican art as a space where diverse perspectives coexisted. While some artists sought inspiration in the pre-Hispanic and colonial past and in folk traditions to define a national identity, others explored the dreams, emotions, and influences of the European avant-garde.
A collection that sparks new conversations
One of the most interesting aspects of the exhibition is that it brings to light voices that were long excluded from traditional narratives of Mexican art. The exhibition highlights the contributions of women artists, Indigenous communities, migrants, and exiles, while also demonstrating how art served as a tool for political critique and social transformation through murals, publications, and posters.
More than just a reopening, “Art and Visuality in Modern Mexico” invites viewers to revisit a historic collection from a contemporary perspective, demonstrating that modern Mexican art remains a subject open to dialogue and new interpretations.
📍 MUNAL National Art Museum (Tacuba 8, Historic Center)
🕙 Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
💲 Generaladmission is 95 pesos. Admission is free for children under 13, students, teachers, people with disabilities, and seniors with a valid ID. On Sundays, admission is free for Mexican citizens and foreign residents with valid identification.
