Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum
by: Travel by México
Tamayo Contemporary Art Museum
by: Travel by México
In what might be called the Museum Mile of the Federal District, Tamayo, as it is fondly called by its regular visitors, is an experience out of the ordinary.
Its design, made in the 1980s by architect A. Zabludowsky aims to combine the two cultural backgrounds of Mexico, the Mexica and their tradition of building pyramids and Spanish with its evangelizing mission as reflected in their cathedrals.
The reinforced concrete building, which houses one of the best collections of art collections in the country, is a testament of love for Mexico and the art world. The legendary Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo, known internationally for his paintings began collecting plastic works from the 60’s to create a rich cultural heritage and make it available to the public. That was how the idea of building the Museo Rufino Tamayo, also known as the Tamayo Museum of Contemporary Art.
The construction of the campus began in 1979 by the architect Teodoro González de León and Abraham Zabludowsky, finishing two years later. The building has several levels organized in modules, designed to be illuminated with natural light inside. The total area of is 2800m2 with 5100m2 construction. He was awarded the National Architecture Prize in 1981 for its contemporary style, and is regarded as one more piece of the collection that integrates the museum.
The museum’s collection was comprised of Olga and Rufino Tamayo, and bears witness to the artistic movements in the second half of the twentieth century, a time which brought together the 300 pieces of the museum’s permanent collection. The works included come from different artistic movements such as the School of Paris, figuration and Expressionism. The museum collection extends outside of the enclosure, where contemporary sculptures are displayed. It also has services such as a bookstore and the Café Tamayo. Metro Station: Auditorium, line 7. Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 to 6:00 hours. Price: $15.00 pesos, free admission on Sundays.