The Museo de Arte Moderno sits in Chapultepec Park, in the Miguel Hidalgo district of Mexico City. Opened in 1964, it holds a permanent collection of 20th-century Mexican art, with works by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo, alongside rotating temporary exhibitions. The circular building is topped by a dome that lets soft golden light into the galleries. A sculpture garden outside offers a quiet place to sit between rooms. A full visit takes about an hour, and it pairs well with the other museums in the park.
A modernist building in Chapultepec Park
The museum opened in 1964, during a period when Mexico City was changing quickly and its cultural life was expanding. It stands in Chapultepec Park, the large green space in the west of the city that also holds Chapultepec Castle and the National Anthropology Museum.
The building is circular and built around a central dome. The dome is the feature most visitors remember, because it brings soft, golden light into the galleries. Light is the main thing that sets the interior apart from more conventional museum rooms.
What the galleries hold
The permanent collection covers 20th-century Mexican art, with works by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington, Remedios Varo, Olga Costa, Rufino Tamayo and David Alfaro Siqueiros. Some international pieces are also on display. The works range from the 1920s to more recent decades.
The ground floor is used mainly for temporary exhibitions, and the permanent collection is on the floor above. A staircase with a double-helix shape connects the two levels. Visitors who arrive without a plan can start with the temporary show on the ground floor and then move up to the collection.
The museum is divided into four major wings, each with a slightly different theme. Kahlo's The Two Fridas, a double portrait from 1939, is among the best-known works in the collection.
The sculpture garden and the grounds
Outside, an abstract sculpture garden surrounds the museum with greenery and benches. It is the easiest place to take a break between galleries.
The campus is open enough to walk around, and many visitors combine the museum with a stroll through the park. The Anthropology Museum is within walking distance, so the two can be seen in one afternoon.
Planning the visit
Getting tickets in advance is recommended. Because everyone enters through one security point, arriving early helps you keep the wait short.
The site has a restaurant, and the entrance, elevator, restroom, seating and parking lot are all listed as wheelchair accessible. Admission is charged, so check the official website before you go for current prices and any free-entry days.
FAQ
Is there an entry fee?
Yes. Admission is charged, so check the official website for current prices and any free-entry days.
How long do you need?
About an hour covers the galleries and the grounds. Allow more time if a temporary exhibition interests you.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Getting tickets in advance is recommended for this museum.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entrance, elevator, restroom, seating and parking lot are listed as wheelchair accessible.
