Mexico City is an art and design lover’s paradise. Home to some of the world’s most exciting contemporary galleries, world-class museums, and a thriving creative scene, CDMX offers an unrivaled art experience. Whether you’re interested in modern masters, emerging mexico city artists, prehispanic antiquities, or cutting-edge design, these 21 Mexico City art galleries and museums are sure to impress. 

My recent 7-day visit to Mexico City has left me inspired and in awe of how much Mexico City offers for design and art enthusiasts. Some of the highlights were visiting the still-under-construction Parque Quanztal and meeting the architect himself at the park, just wandering around.

I visited countless small art galleries to large famous Mexico city art galleries. Endless wondering of all the beautiful museums. Although I didn’t and couldn’t see everything I wanted to I left with a sense of a higher frequency of excitement and inspiration. Here are some of my recommended must-visit galleries and museums.

20 Mexico City Art Galleries & Museums You Need to Visit

No time to read it all? Here are the highlights:

• Museo Jumex and Museo Soumaya offer blue-chip modern and contemporary art in stunning architectural spaces
• Kurimanzutto and OMR represent Mexico’s leading established and rising contemporary artists
• Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul and the Anahuacalli Museum provide an intimate look at the lives and work of Kahlo and Diego Rivera
• Visit the stunning and hidden gem Parque Quetzalcóatl
• Plan your trip during Zona Maco or Material art fairs in February for the ultimate CDMX art immersion
• Don’t miss smaller galleries like MASA, JO-HS, and Pequod Co. to discover exciting emerging talent

Want all the details on where to go and what to see? Keep reading for our comprehensive guide to Mexico City’s dynamic art offerings.

Must Visit Museums in Mexico City

Museo Jumex: Modern art museum mexico city

• Housed in a striking travertine and glass building by British architect David Chipperfield
• Contemporary art mexico and Features modern and contemporary
  masterpieces by Warhol, Koons, Hirst, and more
• Home to one of the largest private collections of Latin American contemporary art
• Free admission and public programs make art accessible to all
• Don’t miss the sculpture garden and chic restaurant by Enrique Olvera of Pujol fame

Address: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 303, Polanco Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-7pm Admission: Free Website: https://www.fundacionjumex.org/

Insider Tip: Time your visit for a free guided tour (check the website for English options) to get expert insights on the current exhibitions and permanent collection highlights.

Museo Soumaya

• Dramatic curved facade covered in 16,000 hexagonal aluminum tiles
• Eclectic collection spanning Rodin sculptures to prehispanic artifacts to colonial-era paintings
• European masters like Tintoretto, El Greco, Cézanne, Renoir, Degas, Dalí represented
• One of Mexico City’s most unique architectural landmarks designed by Fernando Romero
• Funded by billionaire Carlos Slim’s foundation, admission is free

Book a Private Guided Tour of Museum Soumaya.

Address: Blvd. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Granada Hours: Daily 10:30am-6:30pm

National Museum of Anthropology

• Massive museum presenting the incredible breadth of Mexico’s prehispanic history
• Monumental Mexica (Aztec) and Mayan artifacts like the Sun Stone and Palenque tomb

• Rich ethnographic exhibits on Mexican indigenous cultures
• Beautiful outdoor spaces with temple replicas and gardens
• Give yourself at least a half day to explore the highlights

Book a Private Guided Tour of Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City

Address: Av. Paseo de la Reforma, Chapultepec Polanco Hours: Tues-Sun 9am-7pm Admission: $90 MXN ($5 USD) Website: https://mna.inah.gob.mx/

Tip: avoid the long lines by buying tickets at these vending machines. They accept cards only.

Don’t Forget: The museum is closed on Mondays, and it’s a popular spot on Sundays when admission is free for Mexican citizens and residents. Avoid the crowds by going on a weekday morning.

RELATED: Ultimate Guide To Hot Air balloons over Teotihuacan pyramids

Museo Tamayo Arte Contemporáneo

• Rotating exhibits by leading contemporary Mexican and international artists
• Core collection donated by Mexican modernist painter Rufino Tamayo and wife Olga
• Striking modernist architecture by Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludovsky
• Serene setting surrounded by greenery in Chapultepec Park
• Recently reopened in 2022 after extensive renovations and expansion

Address: Paseo de la Reforma 51, Bosque de Chapultepec Hours: Wed-Sun 11:30am-5:30pm Admission: $50 MXN ($2.50 USD)
Website: https://museotamayo.org/

Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul) & Diego Rivera Anahuacalli Museum

• Frida Kahlo’s home turned museum offers glimpse into her life and creative process
• See her living spaces, studio, and garden along with personal effects
• Collection includes famous self-portraits and lesser-known early works
• Timed tickets must be purchased online in advance, no walk-ups allowed
• Anahuacalli houses Rivera’s extensive collection of 50,000 prehispanic artifacts

Buy Tickets to Frida Kahlo Museum

Tip: Make sure to pre purchase your tickets online as they are sold out almost on all days.

RELATED: Visiting Frida Kahlo Museum My Experience

Frida Kahlo Museum Address: Londres 247, Del Carmen, Coyoacán Hours: Tues-Sun 10am-5:30pm
Admission: $250 MXN ($12.50 USD)

Anahuacalli Museum Address: Museo 150, San Pablo Tepetlapa, Coyoacán
Hours: Tues-Sun 10:30am-5pm Included with Frida Kahlo Museum ticket Website:

Pro Planning Tip: Casa Azul tickets sell out weeks or even months in advance, especially in high season (Nov-Apr). Book as early as possible for your desired date and entry time.

Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes)

• Grandiose art deco exterior with art nouveau interiors featuring Tiffany stained glass
• Spectacular theater under stained glass dome hosts music and dance performances
• Murals by the “big three” Mexican muralists: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros

• Rotating exhibitions often highlight modern Mexican artists and photography
• Join a guided tour to Palacio de bellas artes in English to learn about the building’s fascinating history
• Watch a Ballet show get tickets ahead.

Address: Av. Juárez, Centro Histórico Hours: Tues-Sun 10am-6pm
Admission: $80 MXN ($4 USD)

Hidden Gems in Mexico City: Art and Design

Parque Quetzalcóatl

Parque Quetzalcóatl is a stunning park located in the northwest of Mexico City, designed by the visionary architect Javier Senosiain. The park is a masterpiece of organic architecture, which seeks to create harmony between human-made structures and the natural environment

RELATED: How to Visit Parque Quetzalcóat

Leading Contemporary Art Galleries Mexico City: Mexico city art galleries

Kurimanzutto

• Founded by artists Gabriel Orozco, Mónica Manzutto, and José Kuri in late 1990s
• Represents many of Mexico’s most renowned contemporary artists like Abraham Cruzvillegas, Damián Ortega, and Dr. Lakra
• Also shows top international talent in minimalist warehouse space
• Great bookshop with art books, limited editions, and unique artist-designed objects
• Stages 5-6 major exhibitions per year, often with extensive programming

Tip: I loved this art gallery, it’s small in size but the space is beautiful. The entrance is also free with no appointments necesseary, You can just walk in. 

RELATED: Mexico City Travel Guide

Address: Gobernador Rafael Rebollar 94, San Miguel Chapultepec Hours: Tues-Sat 11am-6pm Admission: Free Website: https://www.kurimanzutto.com/

Art galleries mexico city

OMR

• Established in 1983, one of Mexico City’s longest-operating contemporary galleries
• Two-story industrial space in Roma is an atmospheric artwork in itself
• Exhibits include international stars alongside top emerging Mexican artists
• Openings are lively community events attracting CDMX’s creative class
• Basement houses FOLIA, an experimental project space for up-and-coming talent

Address: Córdoba 100, Roma Norte
Hours: Tues-Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-4pm Admission: Free Website: http://galeriaomr.com/

RELATED: Where to Stay in Mexico City & Coolest Hotels in Mexico City

Best art galleries in Mexico city

Casa Wabi

• Founded in 2023 as a nonprofit exhibition space by Fundación Casa Wabi
• Located in the Atlampa neighborhood of Mexico City
• Occupies the gallery and roof of a building designed by Alberto Kalach
• Shares the building with Studio Bosco Sodi

• Provides a platform for emerging artists to showcase their work
• Welcomes exhibition proposals from artists of all backgrounds and experience levels
• Accepts proposals for either or both of its spaces (gallery and roof)
• Open to artists working in any medium or discipline
• Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis, with no specific deadlines

Address: C. Sabino 336, Atlampa, Cuauhtémoc, 06450 Mexico City, CDMX
Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission: Free admission

MASA

• Contemporary design and art platform showcasing Mexico’s most intriguing creators
• Unique program blurs boundaries between functional, collectible design and fine art
• Collaborates with leading Mexican creatives like Frida Escobedo, Pedro Reyes, and Héctor Esrawe
• Recently opened permanent space in sprawling 18th-century mansion
• Also organizes pop-up exhibits in raw, architecturally interesting venues around CDMX

Address: Joaquín A. Pérez 6, San Miguel Chapultepec Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat by appt Admission: Free Website: https://masa-galeria.com/

Worth a Visit: Check MASA’s website and Instagram for info on pop-up shows in unusual spaces, as these are some of their most memorable exhibitions.

LAGO/ALGO

• Stunning contemporary art space opened by OMR Gallery in 2022
• Housed in modernist former restaurant with lake views in Chapultepec Park
• Rotates solo and group shows by established and emerging Latin American artists
• Adjoining LAGO restaurant lets you pair art with an elevated Mexican meal
• Gorgeous outdoor sculpture terrace hosts yoga, meditation and kids’ workshops

Address: Pista El Sope S/N, Bosque de Chapultepec Hours: Wed-Sun 11am-6pm
Admission: Free Website: https://www.algocl.com/

JO-HS

• Intimate gallery with a unique personal touch – it’s also the gallerist’s home
• Presents curated exhibits by rising Latin American artists in various media
• Artwork often blends techniques like painting, sculpture, ceramics and textiles
• Lovely 1970s house setting with period details and verdant courtyard
• By-appointment visits allow for rich dialogue with artists and gallerist

Address: Gobernador José Guadalupe Covarrubias 46, San Miguel Chapultepec Hours: By appointment, check for occasional open house events Admission: Free Website: https://jo-hs.com/

Galería Agustina Ferreyra

• Female-forward program emphasizing Mexican and Latin American artists
• Owner Agustina Ferreyra is an important advocate for women and LGBTQ+ voices
• Known for discovering emerging talent and supporting experimental new media
• Airy Roma space is a welcoming setting for challenging, conceptual work
• Frequent artist talks and performances activate the gallery

Address: Callejón de la Condesa 5, Roma Norte Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-6pm, Sat 11am-4pm Admission: Free Website: http://agustinaferreyra.com/

LABOR

• Cutting-edge gallery focused on ambitious, research-based practices
• Artists include Mexican conceptualists Tercerunquinto and Eduardo Abaroa
• Represents international figures like Jill Magid, Julian Charrière, and Teresa Margolles
• Known for provocative shows that engage politics, technology, environment
• Events feature some of Mexico’s sharpest cultural critics and curators

Address: Fco. Ramírez 5, Col. Daniel Garza Hours: Tues-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-4pm Admission: Free Website: https://labor.org.mx/

Galería Enrique Guerrero

• Established gallery dating to 1995, founder was early champion of Gabriel Orozco
• Focuses on mid-career Mexican artists with strong institutional track records
• Program ranges from painting and sculpture to new media and socially engaged practices
• Gorgeous, light-filled Roma space renovated by architect Alberto Kalach
• Excellent art library with extensive collections of rare books and catalogs

Address: Av. Horacio 1549, Polanco Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat by appointment Admission: Free Website: https://galeriaenriqueguerrero.com/

Best art galleries Mexico city

Proyectos Monclova

• Dynamic Mexico City outpost of esteemed Monterrey-based gallery
• Focused on rigorous, critically engaged practices by Mexican and international artists
• Frequent solo exhibitions serve as major touchstones in artists’ careers
• Artist roster includes leading Mexican conceptualists and interventionists
• Elegant exhibition spaces occupy a renovated 1940s house in Roma

Address: Colima 55, Roma Norte Hours: Tues-Thurs 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-4pm Admission: Free Website: https://proyectosmonclova.com/

Pequod Co.

• Artist-run project space with an innovative, genre-bending program
• Presents work by emerging Mexican and international artists in intimate setting
• Encourages dialogue between local and global perspectives
• Memorable exhibitions have featured VR, textiles, clay, and participatory projects
• Hip, youthful vibe and openings attract CDMX’s next-gen creative crowd

Address: Guadiana 19, Roma Sur Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-2pm, 4-7pm Admission: Free Website: http://pequodco.com/

Design-Forward Galleries in CDMX

AGO Projects

• Platform promoting collectible design with an eye to social and environmental impact
• Presents limited-edition and one-off works by top Mexican and Latin American designers
• Collaborated with designers like Frida Escobedo, EWE Studio, and Liliana Ovalle
• Nomadic CDMX exhibition space and NYC showroom
• Prioritizes designers using sustainable practices and local materials/techniques

Address: CDMX address varies, see website for current location Hours: Contact for appointment
Admission: Free Website: https://www.ago-projects.com/

Galerie Philia

• International gallery specializing in contemporary art and collectable design
• Represents emerging Mexican talents alongside renowned global designers
• Organizes a roster of temporary exhibitions in architectural settings
• Gorgeous Mexico City space in the Laguna, a converted 1960s office building
• Known for atypical materials and techniques that push boundaries of art and design

Address: Calz. Mariano Escobedo 145, Anáhuac Hours: By appointment only Admission: Free Website: https://galerie-philia.com/

Must-See Art Fairs in mexico city

Zona Maco

• Mexico City’s premier contemporary art fair, held each February
• Brings together 100+ top international exhibitors in all media
• Special curated sections for emerging talent, modern art, and limited editions
• Extensive programming of talks, performances, and special exhibitions
• Attracts 60,000+ visitors including major collectors, curators, and art world insiders

Dates: Early February annually (check website for upcoming editions) Location: Centro Citibanamex convention center Hours: Wed-Sat 12-9pm, Sun 12-8pm Admission: $350 MXN ($18 USD) one-day pass, $500 MXN ($25 USD) 3-day pass, various VIP options Website: https://zsonamaco.com/

Don’t Miss: Zona Maco Sur, a curated selection of solo projects by rising Latin American talents, and Zona Maco Diseño, focused on limited-edition design and decorative arts.

Material Art Fair

• Edgier satellite fair known for cutting-edge programming
• Boutique vibe with around 90 exhibitors, mostly emerging and experimental
• Approachable venue allows for discovery of lesser-known international galleries
• On-trend curation emphasizes new media, installation, and socially engaged work
• Dynamic series of performances, talks, and music complements gallery presentations

Dates: Early February, concurrent with Zona Maco Location: Expo Reforma Hours: Thurs-Sat 12-8pm, Sun 12-6pm Admission: $180 MXN ($9 USD) Website: https://material-fair.com/

Salón Acme

• Spirited emerging art fair coinciding with Zona Maco and Material
• Non-profit platform presents projects by independent artists and spaces
• Casual, funky vibe that draws a younger, artier crowd
• Compact layout makes for highly collegial, community-driven event
• Unpretentious, discovery-oriented program is an art insider favorite

Dates: Early February, concurrent with Zona Maco and Material Location: Historic Casa Basalta in Chapultepec (or similar architecturally intriguing site) Hours: Vary, usually Thurs-Sun, 12-8pm Admission: $120 MXN ($6 USD)
Website: https://acmesalon.com/

Helpful Tip: Salón Acme is always held in a different place, so check their website or social media for the location. Past venues have included modernist houses, defunct factories, and Porfirian mansions.

FAQ Mexico City Contemporary art galleries

When is the best time to visit CDMX art galleries?

The high season for most galleries is November through April, when exhibitions change roughly every 6-8 weeks. Zona Maco and Material Art Fair in February bring a festive atmosphere with extended hours, openings, and parties.

Can’t miss museums for modern and contemporary art in Mexico City?

Museo Jumex and Museo Tamayo are the two key institutions for modern and contemporary art. Jumex has an expansive collection and mounts major special exhibitions, while Tamayo offers a more focused selection in a beautiful setting. The museums are a 15-minute walk from each other in Polanco.

Are gallery admission and events free?

Yes, nearly all commercial galleries are free and open to the public. Larger spaces like OMR, Kurimanzutto, LABOR and Proyectos Monclova have regular hours. Smaller project spaces like HOSA, JO-HS and Lulu usually require an appointment. Most are closed Sunday-Monday.

What are some noteworthy art and design events?

In addition to the major February fairs (Zona Maco, Material, Salón Acme), Mexico City celebrates Gallery Weekend each September with special shows, talks and open studios. Design Week Mexico in October shines a spotlight on interior design, architecture and decorative arts.

Where can I find affordable art by emerging artists?

Smaller, artist-run or independent project spaces like Lulu, Biquini Wax, Paos GDL, and Anonymous Gallery show work by up-and-coming talents at more accessible prices. Online platform Parte Común lets you browse works under $400 USD. Printed matter fairs like Fahrenheit and Indie Photobook Library are also great for discovering collectible zines, photos and ephemera.

Is it possible to visit artists’ studios?

Many Mexico City artists are concentrated in the Doctores, Guerrero, San Rafael, Escandón and Iztapalapa neighborhoods. Some studios are open to the public during CDMX Art Week and Gallery Weekend, but most visits are by appointment only or with the help of an artist residency like SOMA, Espondela or Casa Maauad.

Final Thoughts & Travel Tips

Mexico City’s art scene is vast, varied and constantly evolving. You could spend years exploring and still not see it all. My advice? Dive in and see where your curiosity leads you. Visit a blue-chip gallery in polished Polanco, then check out a scrappy project space in working-class Escandón. Take in blockbuster shows at the museums, but don’t miss the tiny exhibition in an artist’s backyard in Coyoacán. Most of all, talk to people: artists, gallerists, curators, other art lovers. There’s no substitute for local knowledge and personal connections.

A few final pro tips for making the most of your CDMX art explorations:

Ride Share: Uber is the safest, most reliable way to gallery hop. Most rides in the central neighborhoods are under $5 USD.

Reservations: Book restaurants well in advance if you’re traveling during Zona Maco. Tables are hard to come by as the international art crowd descends.

Galleries 101: Most galleries are free and require appointments, but call ahead if you’re interested in a specific artist or show to ensure it’s on view. Saturday is usually the best day to visit, as openings are often held on Thursday or Friday evening.

Be Flexible: Offbeat spaces often have irregular hours. If you have your heart set on a certain gallery, build in extra time in case of delays or closures. And always have a backup plan – there’s great art to be found in CDMX’s nooks and crannies.

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a curious art lover, Mexico City’s vibrant creative landscape offers inspiration and discovery. From prehispanic treasures to cutting-edge contemporary works, these 19 art galleries and museums are an excellent starting point for exploring one of the most exciting art scenes on the planet. ¡Buen viaje!