Author: Kelly Holcomb

National Museum of Mexican Art - Overview

The National Museum of Mexican Art serves as the cultural landmark for the more than 1.5 million Latinos currently residing in the Chicago area. It is a strong advocate for major pieces of art returning to their country of origin. 

About 

The NMMA has an expansive art collection with over 5,500 works of art on display, which is one of the largest collections of art in the United States. It features a wide variety, but all artists sharing the origin of Mexico.

NMMA Mission Statement 

Part of the museum's purpose is to "stimulate and preserve knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture through sponsoring events and exhibitions that exemplify the rich variety of visual and performing arts in the Mexican culture..." Click here to view NMMA's complete mission statement.

Museum Beyond Borders

The Museum defines the Mexican culture as "sin fronteras" (without borders) and presents the Mexican culture from ancient times to the present and how it has manifested itself on both sides of the border.

Permanent Exhibits

One of the NMMA’s collections is of drawings with Mexican style. These pieces of art range from having many beautiful colors to black and white drawings. Two other collections of art include Folk Art and Photography.  The Folk Art shows vibrant colors and detail of the Mexican heritage, including ceramic vases and mini sculptures.The photographs range from Mexican landscapes to people and places. 

One of the main collections of art is the painting and sculpture collection. The paintings of the many different artists, including the likes of Diego Riveria, show beautiful scenes, people, and unique designs of Mexican culture. The sculptures have many details of scenes and people that show the history of Mexico.  There are also collections of textiles, Pre-Cuauhtemoc, and ephemera art. The textiles reflect the various clothing and style of Mexican heritage. The Pre-Cuauhtemoc section displays ancient artifacts that help people understand life before the Classic Period.

Perfomance Arts at NMMA

The National Museum of Mexican Art also showcases performing arts. The performing arts section showcases concerts, festivals, events, films, and dance performances that give insight to the Mexican culture. There are even performances for school and educational groups to see.  You can hear a Mexican artist talk about his/her artwork, enjoy listening to great Mexican music, and see performances by a wide-range of Mexican dancers.

NMMA General Info

The National Museum of Mexican Art is located at 1852 W. 19th St. in the historic Pilsen neighborhood just South of downtown Chicago.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It is closed on Mondays and on holidays. Admission is free (though donations are suggested). Tickets are sold for performance festivals.  The phone number is 312-738-1503.  For more information, visit www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.

Guided Tours

Guided tours are provided free of charge on every hour. The exception is a tour of the Day of the Dead exhibition, which is $80 per group.  You must have at least 10 people in your group and no more than 45 people. Reservations must be made for a tour. To make a reservation call 312-738-1503 Ext. 3842.

Gift Shop

The gift shop sells catalogs of art at the museum, children’s literature, Mexican music, cookbooks, accessories for a classroom (magnets, mugs, backpacks, t-shirts, etc.), Day of the Dead merchandise, books on the history, culture, and art, and other pieces of literature.  The gift shop is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also buy merchandise online at www.mfacmstore.com/.