Guadalajara’s Contemporary Art Scene

@afar
 on 2022.02.03
Multiple locations
8 Places
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In the past, aspiring artists would head for Mexico City as soon as they could scrape together the cash. More recently, however, they’ve been drawn to Guadalajara, where a new crop of funky art galleries and creative spaces has turned neighborhoods like Colonia Lafayette and Colonia Americana into design destinations for Mexico’s cultural set. Credit: Collected by Allegra Ben-Amotz, AFAR Local Expert
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Cuauhtémoc 157

Tlaquepaque

"A family-owned ceramics studio, Cerámica Suro opened in the 1950s to manufacture wares for luxury hotels. When José Noé Suro, the son of the original owner, took over the factory, he invited some of his artist friends to collaborate on projects and began producing dinnerware for some of Mexico’s top restaurants. Today, visits to the factory are by appointment only; contact Journey Mexico to schedule a tour."

Photo by Cerámica Suro

Blvrd Puerta de Hierro 5210

Building · Zapopan

"Opened by a Guadalajara native, CURRO is a contemporary art gallery showcasing edgy, conceptual work by mostly Latin American artists. Many of the pieces here are in constant conversation with the physical boundaries of the gallery, which is located in the futuristic Cube Tower designed by architect Carme Pinós."

Photo courtesy of CURRO

Hotel Demetria

Hotel · Guadalajara

"Located in the charming neighborhood of Colonia Lafayette, Hotel Demetria is among Guadalajara’s trendiest boutique hotels. In addition to stylish rooms, a rooftop pool, and a popular restaurant, the hotel features a contemporary art gallery and bookstore on its mezzanine level. Even more impressive, however, is the fact that the steel-and-glass structure is sandwiched between two pieces of architectural history—Casa Franco and Casa Quiñones, designed by Mexican modernist masters Luis Barragán and Pedro Castellanos, respectively."

Photo courtesy of Hotel Demetria

Julia y Renata Store

Fashion accessories store · Guadalajara

"This minimalist clothing boutique comes courtesy of Mexican fashion designers and sisters Julia and Renata Franco, who both graduated from the Fashion Design Center in Guadalajara. The store’s geometric space and bright, asymmetrical clothing echo the city’s architecture and overall aesthetic, making for an artful shopping experience."

Photo courtesy of Julia y Renata

Museo de Arte Zapopan

Art museum · Zapopan

"Zapopan is mostly known for its 17th-century basilica and adjoining convent, as well as some parish churches and shaded squares with splashing fountains. The Museo de Arte Zapopan (MAZ) can therefore come as a surprise, sitting on the city’s pedestrian-only mall amid vendors selling street food and handicrafts. Founded in 2002, the museum includes several large exhibition spaces that house temporary shows by leading contemporary artists. It’s the sort of space that would not seem out of place inMexico City, or even New York, but in Zapopan feels like a secret discovery for anyone interested in Mexico’s contemporary art scene. An extra bonus: admission is free."

Photo by John Newton

Jose Clemente Orozco Casa Taller

Park · Guadalajara

"A nonprofit art incubator opened by Los Angeles artist Eduardo Sarabio, PAOS occupies a building once owned by Modernist muralist José Celemente Orozco. Here, Sarabia and his fellow artists host exhibitions and artist residencies while promoting public education, critical thinking, and the creative process."

Photo courtesy of PAOS

Páramo

Art gallery · Guadalajara

"Páramo Along with regular exhibitions by local artists, this contemporary art gallery hosts events, screenings, and talks. The team recently opened a second location in New York, as well as an artist residency program in Mexico City."

Photo courtesy of Páramo

Travesía Cuatro, Avenida de la Paz, Americana, Guadalajara

Art gallery · Guadalajara

"A Madrid-based gallery that showcases some of Guadalajara’s best artists, Travesía Cuatro serves as a bridge between the European and Latin American art scenes. Perhaps more impressive than the work on display, however, is the gallery’s setting inside Casa Franco, a 1929 Mediterranean-style home designed by the father of Mexican modernist architecture, Luis Barragán. The landmarked space has the casual feel of a home—that just happens to have a fantastic art collection."

Photo courtesy of Travesía Cuatro
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