Freida Kahlo (1907-1954) Self-portrait with Flower, 1929

Museum Expressions of a Lively Past

by Jo Ann Bennett

Frieda Kahlo (1907-1954) was a Mexican artist that produced approximately 200 paintings. Her artwork concentrated on self-portrait and autobiographical subjects dealing with the feminist movement. Her works of art blending reality and fantasy into one, have made her the most important artist in Latin America and Chicagoans can view her work at The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum.

The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum was founded in 1982 and opened its doors in 1987. Local activists thought there was a need for Mexican heritage representation in the Chicago area. The museum underwent a major renovation and ended up in a Chicago Park District boat house building. The museum is conveniently located at 1852 W. 19th St. in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. The museum does an excellent job in stimulating and preserving the awareness and appreciation of the Mexican culture.

The museum exhibits an extensive collage of the works of many Mexican artists. Some of the much loved artists of the Industrial Revolution time period include Kahlo, Rivera, among other Mexican expressionists.

The museum occupies a building that has a look and feel of a traditional Chicago Park District building. However, one main difference is that this brick building has a maroon trim along the top. The trim resembles some of the works of the Mayan and Inca natives. As one walks into each exhibit, it’s clear that the use of vivid colored (red, green, white, yellow) lights attempt to integrate Mexican history into something innovative that reflected the social issues of the Industrial Revolution.

Mexican Revolution Artist unknown

“I’ve not been here since 1985, the museum has come a long way, I am glad to see that our Mexican heritage continues to be preserved here,” said museum visitor Anita Rambhajan, 32, a school teacher.

During the past two decades, the number of individuals collecting works of art of the Mexican culture in the Chicago-Midwest region has grown extensively. The Mexican Art from 50 private Chicago collections (Collecciones) looks at samplings of collections of ancient artifacts, popular folk art, and modern and contemporary works of Mexican art.

Motivating enough, original photos and letters from Kahlo and Rivera are displayed in protected glass cases. Furthermore, numerous remnants from the Mayan pyramids can be found along with many colorful masks, traditional wear, murals and the Aztec calendar.

The Mexican Fine Arts museum incorporates several works of Mexican artists all under one roof. For the visitors who fall in love with a particular artifact, some of these have been replicated and sold at the museum’s gift shop.

The Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and remains closed on Monday. The general admission is free to all visitors. The museum enjoys reaching out to their community through its Teacher Workshops and Art classes.