Mexico City’s Museum of Popular Art
I think I just found my most favorite museum in Mexico City – The Museum of Popular Art. Now, I’m sure this place isn’t a hidden treasure for those of you that do live in Mexico City, or even for those that know how to read their Lonely Planet guidebook right…but somehow, after several trips to Mexico City – many of them for “touring” purposes, I still had never even heard of this museum.
We found out about the Museum of Popular Art via the giant alebrijes that lined Avenida Reforma in Mexico City for a few weeks in October into November. Part of a competition sponsored by the museum, these alebrijes were very entertaining to look at – creative, colorful and fantastic. Seeking more of this vibrant art, we wandered our way down past the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and over to Revillagigedo Street #11, right behind the Sheraton Hotel on Avenida Juárez.
The Museum of Popular Art is a pristine, white, modern building amidst some fairly drab looking concrete buildings, so it’s not too hard to find. The museum is 3 stories high, and organized by salas or rooms. The atrium reaches up all three stories with wrap-around balconies – when we were there the balconies were decorated with lively piñatas made out of traditional materials – mermaids, donkeys, grapes…all just about as unique and creative as the alebrijes.
This museum is perfect for those who might be tired of the same old broken pottery and clay figurines and historical artifacts found in most other museums in Mexico…and around the world. In these salas you can find lots of popular art with skeletons, masks, traditional decorations and more alebrijes, with themes such as “The Fantastic” and “The Sacred.”
The museum of Popular Art is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10-6, and Thursdays 10-9. The ticket is $40 pesos, and allows for all of the exceptions that regular museums do (student ID, children under 13, etc.)
