Museo Jumex

One of the newest and hottest, the Museo Jumex is not lost in the shadow of its much flashier neighbors. Representing what is arguably the most important collection of Latin American art in the world, it’s always a rather discreet museum.

Designed by the British architect, David Chipperfield, the permanent location was intended to promote the discovery, reflection, and learning of contemporary art through the critical program the curatorial staff maintains. Deeply embedded with the international scene, the staff continually challenge contemporary paradigms of thought and confront the big issues of the day.

In vivid straight lines, vibrant marble and stone, and with an emphasis on natural light, the Museo Jumex is as refreshing to come upon as anything on the museum scene in the city. With almost always at least some reference to the renowned Jumex Collection, founded in 2001, the museum is now showing off what is undoubtedly one of the most significant collections of contemporary art in Latin America.

The museum’s beginnings are interesting too. Eugenio López Alonso’s vision was to build a collection that includes works by Andy Warhol, Gabriel Orozco, Cy Twombly, Marcel Duchamp, Andreas Gursky, Darren Almond, Tacita Dean, Olafur Eliasson, Martin Kippenberger, Carl Hopgood, Bruce Nauman, David Ostrowski and Francis Alÿs, among many others. Having purchased his first work of Mexican art in 1994, he spent his time studying contemporary art while traveling and researching how to put together a collection that would encourage the development of the work of artists of his generation in Mexico.

The Fundación Jumex was founded with a team of art professionals with the pointed direction to promote contemporary art through programs involving collecting, education, research, and the funding of artists and museums. The already burgeoning collection was exhibited for many years at the Galería Jumex, on the premises of the Grupo Jumex juice plant in Ecatepec. At a 15,000 square-foot, it was big but on the outskirts of Mexico City, it was fascinating to interested professionals almost exclusively.

The Museo Jumex opened only in November 2013. Conceived in response to its surroundings and the local context, it features exhibition galleries, and public spaces for meetings and events.