Things to See and Do in Mexico City #6: Museo Vivo del Muralismo
The Living Museum of Muralism / Museo Vivo del Muralismo opened its doors to the public on September 28, 2024, just a few months ago, so I was stoked to have the opportunity to visit the newest art museum in Mexico City with Miss CDMX.
The Museo Vivo del Muralismo is located within the former convent of Santa María de la Encarnación del Divino Verbo, built between 1639 and 1648 and one of the most impressive buildings in the Historic Center. It occupies a whole block from República de Argentina and República de Brasil, and República de Venezuela and Luis González Obregón.
And it's free to enter!!
Model of The Living Museum of Muralism:
And it's free to enter!!
Model of The Living Museum of Muralism:
The convent was disbanded after the Reform War in 1861 but the church was still in use until 1917. It then became the head quarters of the Secretary of Public Education.
In 1923, José Vasconcelos, the 1st Secretary of Public Education of Mexico commissioned Diego Rivera, José David Alfaro Siqueiros (2 of the 3 most prominent muralists of the 20th century - the 3rd being José Clemente Orozco) and Luis Nishizawa, Jean Charlot, Manuel Felguérez, Amado de la Cueva and Roberto Montenegro to paint a series of murals covering 235 panels.
Rivera was responsible for most of the work and was Rivera’s first major large-scale mural project, and features murals such as Capataz - The Overseer, Abrazo - The Embrace, Salida de la mina - Leaving the mine, El Trapiche - The Sugar Mill.
And it was Rivera's work we enjoyed the most, as we only had time to explore the ground floor, the Museo Vivo del Muralismo, occupies 3 floors.
It is quite possible my best art museum in Mexico City but here are some of the photos from our first visit:
In 1923, José Vasconcelos, the 1st Secretary of Public Education of Mexico commissioned Diego Rivera, José David Alfaro Siqueiros (2 of the 3 most prominent muralists of the 20th century - the 3rd being José Clemente Orozco) and Luis Nishizawa, Jean Charlot, Manuel Felguérez, Amado de la Cueva and Roberto Montenegro to paint a series of murals covering 235 panels.
Rivera was responsible for most of the work and was Rivera’s first major large-scale mural project, and features murals such as Capataz - The Overseer, Abrazo - The Embrace, Salida de la mina - Leaving the mine, El Trapiche - The Sugar Mill.
And it was Rivera's work we enjoyed the most, as we only had time to explore the ground floor, the Museo Vivo del Muralismo, occupies 3 floors.
It is quite possible my best art museum in Mexico City but here are some of the photos from our first visit:
"Capataz - The Overseer" - Diego Rivera 1923:
"Salida de la mina - Leaving the mine" - Diego Rivera 1923:
"El Trapiche - The Sugar Mill" - Diego Rivera 1923:
"Los cargadores - The Bearers" - Jean Charlot 1923/1924:
"Patricios y patricidas" - David Alfaro Siqueiros:
Other notable murals at the Museo Vivo del Muralismo in Mexico City:
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Enjoying the murals at the mural at the Museo Vivo del Muralismo in Mexico City:
2 days after we got married, we were downtown having our wedding rings engraved, we returned to see the upper floors at the Vivo:
"Día de Muertos" - Diego Rivera - 1923/1924:
"Día de Muertos" - Diego Rivera - 1923/1924 - Notice how Diego features himself in many of his murals. Can you see him?:
"En el Arsenal" - Diego Rivera - 1928:
"Fraternidad" - Diego Rivera - 1928:
"La investigación" - Diego Rivera - 1923:
"Simbolo de Agricultura" - Diego Rivera - 1923. Notice too, how there are very often certain symbols in Rivera's art. Look at the Hammer and Sickle together with the star:
How to get to the Museo Vivo del Muralismo
The Museo Vivo del Muralismo is located just a few blocks north of the Zocalo, on República de Argentina.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday, 10 am to 5:30 pm
Entrance ticket: Free admission
República de Argentina 28
Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México
Cuauhtémoc
06020 Ciudad de México.
CDMX
Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday, 10 am to 5:30 pm
Entrance ticket: Free admission
República de Argentina 28
Centro Histórico de la Cdad. de México
Cuauhtémoc
06020 Ciudad de México.
CDMX
Check the official Museo Vivo del Muralismo website for more details.
