Mexico Exhibition: Gelman-Santander Collection of Modern Art

Special: Mexico presents emblematic works of modern art in the Gelman-Santander Collection
Image from February 16, 2026, of people viewing a work exhibited in the exhibition "Modern Narratives: Emblematic Works from the Gelman-Santander Collection" at the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. Mexico once again takes center stage on the cultural scene with the exhibition "Modern Narratives: Emblematic Works from the Gelman-Santander Collection," which brings together 69 fundamental pieces of Mexican modern art by artistic figures such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. (Xinhua/Daniel Augusto)

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Mexico is once again taking center stage on the cultural scene with the exhibition "Modern Narratives: Emblematic Works from the Gelman-Santander Collection," which brings together 69 key pieces of modern Mexican art by artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

After nearly two decades without being exhibited in the country, the show, hosted by the Museum of Modern Art (MAM) in Mexico City, offers an interpretation of Mexican modernity through thematic sections that explore identity, the body, the avant-garde, and the relationship between art and film.

“We are exploring four perspectives on Mexican art, specifically the relationship between painting and film, since we are not only dealing with art collectors, but also with figures deeply involved in the film industry, particularly Jax Gelman, a producer who worked closely with (actor) Mario Moreno (Cantinflas),” explained Carlos Segoviano, associate curator of the exhibition, to Xinhua.

The Gelman-Santander Collection originated from the holdings of Jaques and Natasha Gelman, who in the mid-20th century promoted and collected key works of modern Mexican art, establishing close ties with artists such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.

The exhibition, which begins its tour at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM), proposes an interpretation that positions the pieces as part of a living artistic memory, relevant for understanding the 20th century and the present.

Key works by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Rufino Tamayo, Angel Zárraga, Gunther Gerzo, María Izquierdo, José Reyes Ferreira, and Lola Alvarez Bravo are featured in this exhibition, which demonstrates the relevance of the Gelman-Santander Collection as one of the most representative collections of milestones in modern art in Latin America.

"From Diego Rivera, we have the iconic portrait by Natasha Gelman, almost like a movie star, and his famous piece 'The Calla Lily Vendor,'" the Mexican specialist pointed out.

In the collection, Frida Kahlo occupies a central place with a dozen oil paintings, among which "Self-Portrait with Necklace" (1933) and "Diego on My Mind" (1943) stand out as emblematic pieces of the body of self-portraits gathered in the renowned collection.

"We have a series of Frida Kahlo self-portraits, among which 'Diego on My Mind,' with her in a Tehuana dress, and 'Frida Kahlo with the Monkeys,' the self-portrait with monkeys, stand out. These works evoke her four students known as 'Los Fridos.' There are also works that have nothing to do with her, but that speak to something of her identity," he noted.

The 27 exhibited works have been declared Artistic Monuments, a measure that guarantees the care of the artistic heritage and the integrity of the pieces during their exhibition and circulation.

"This is a collection that hasn't been shown in Mexico for two decades, and now the public will be able to see some of the great works that demonstrate the importance of this collection in the history of Mexican art at this iconic museum of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature," the curator stated.

The fact that the collection's traveling exhibition begins in Mexico means that new generations can encounter fundamental works of art history.

"We invite you to view one of the most important collections. Our particular intention is for young people—children and teenagers—to engage with this collection and these great works, which will now be displayed alongside the Museum of Modern Art's own collection," Segoviano added.

Through this exhibition, Mexico strengthens the preservation and dissemination of its artistic heritage, while introducing new generations to fundamental works that shaped the course of modern Mexican art and solidified the country's position as a cultural leader in the 20th century.

"Modern Narratives: Emblematic Works from the Gelman-Santander Collection" will be open to the public until May 17 at the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City.

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