logo
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class

855-997-4652LoginTry a Free Class

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
logo
  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class

855-997-4652LoginTry a Free Class

  • Programs
    • Preschool
    • Elementary School
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • Adults
    • School Solutions
  • School Solutions
  • Pricing
  • How it Works
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • My Cart
  • Login
  • Try a Free Class
October 23, 2021 by Nicole Canún Our Top Picks 0 comments

8 Incredible and Iconic Murals in Mexico City

Murals in Mexico City are famous for their size, historical importance, and transcendence. These immortal pieces of art document Mexican history. 

Mexican murals often display battles, wars, oppression, and the quest for justice. Muralism in Mexico started in 1920, and a generation of iconic painters transcended borders with their creativity.

Muralism was a way to document the story of Mexican society through everyday scenes, as well as portraits of Mexican heroes and events. Murals in Mexico City are spread throughout the capital and in the most interesting and touristic places. 

¡Aprendamos de ocho murales mexicanos importantes!
Let’s learn about eight important Mexican murals!

8 Amazing Mexican Murals

Filled with socio-political messages and hints of communism and socialism, the Big Three dominated this artistic scene: Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and Alfaro Siqueiros. 

The government commissioned murals to solidify the efforts of the Mexican Revolution. They wanted to prove to the Mexican people that trusting in this social movement was the way to go. 

Check out this list of the 8 greatest murals in Mexico City!

1. Mexico Through the Centuries (México a través de los siglos) – Diego Rivera

México a través de los años (Mexico Through the Centuries) or La epopeya del pueblo mexicano (The Epic of the Mexican People) is a Diego Rivera masterpiece at the Palacio Nacional (National Palace) in downtown Mexico City, a favorite tourist spot. 

This is one of the most famous Rivera murals in Mexico City. It encompasses prehispanic Mexico, Independence, Revolution, Spanish colonization and Inquisition, French invasion, and the 20th century social struggle against capitalism. 

It depicts key historical figures, such as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, José María Morelos y Pavón, Emperor Maximiliano de Habsburgo,  Frida Kahlo, Porfirio Díaz, Pancho Villa, and Emiliano Zapata.  

It’s almost 3,000 sq f (276 sq m), and it took Diego Rivera 22 years to complete! Diego always asked for total liberty when choosing scenery, characters, and messages in his murals. That’s why it includes Karl Marx, worker strikes, and other details associated with socialism and communism that were part of Rivera’s ideology.

Art
The History of Mexico – by Diego Rivera | © Laura Pontiggia/Flickr

2. Historical Representation of the Culture (Representación histórica de la cultura) – Juan O’Gorman

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM; Autonomous National University of Mexico) is in University City. UNESCO recognizes it as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity thanks to the artistic pieces in it, the Central Library’s being the most iconic one. 

The giant library is the most representative building of modern Mexican architecture. The mural covers all four walls of the library and has more than 150 types of natural stones, collected from all states of Mexico. 

Juan O’Gorman was the son of a painter, the brother of a historian, and the protegé of Diego Rivera. The north facade of the mural represents Mexico’s prehispanic past, dualities of life and death and Aztec deities. 

The south facade illustrates colonialism and viceroyalty. It also has two circles which are the most notable elements of the whole mural. They represent Ptolomeo’s and Copernicus’ ideas of the Earth and the universe. 

The west facade shows the university’s emblem, college life, sports and a productive society. The east side depicts the contemporary world and social progress, as well as the historical passage of Mexican revolution. 

One thing to know is that according to the UNAM, the Central Library is the most photographed building in Mexico.

See also: 10 Most Spectacular Theaters in Mexico City

art
Juan O’Gormans library from afar | © Kate Mccarthy/Flickr

3. The March of Humanity on Earth and into the Cosmos (La marcha de la humanidad en la Tierra y hacia el cosmos) – David Alfaro Siqueiros

“The March of Humanity on Earth and into the Cosmos” has three main, unique, exquisite features. The first is that it is the biggest mural of all time. The surface is nearly 100,000 sq ft (8,700 sq m). Second, the external part of this monumental art piece has 12 panels. Third, it’s not only a mural, but also a sculpture. 

It is the masterpiece of David Alfaro Siqueiros at the Polyforum Siqueiros. He longed to create a cultural patrimony in Mexico that was able to send a message of consciousness, evolution, and justice. 

This mural has elements of artistic movements such as abstractionism, “new realism,” and expressionism. The beginning of the march is set by an erupting volcano. A man stands in front of a woman and a poisonous tree intends to poison humanity’s confidence and generate despair. As a sign of hope, a different tree comes from the first and it is blooming with the new leaders of the struggle. 

A female leader also is born from a volcano. Another woman of geometric dimensions offers harmony, peace, and culture to transform society. Slaves, pregnant women, torture, mestizaje (the mix of two races), kids, eagles, astronauts, and stars all play a role in this encouraging piece of hope and kindness. 

Mexican murals
Polyforum Siqueiros | © Alejandro/Flickr

4. The Gully of Dolores (El cárcamo de Dolores) – Diego Rivera

In a building near the Chapultepec forest, there is a mural that used to be subaquatic! Its two pieces are: 

  • Water, the origin of life – El agua, el origen de la vida 
  • Tlaloc’s Fountain – La fuente de Tláloc

Today, this is part of the Museum of Natural History. The mural is painted over the four faces of the tunnel where water once came in. The symbols and elements have all to do with the technical effort of the working class involved in providing Mexicans with clean water. 

Microorganisms evolve into vegetables, animals, and eventually humans in the tunnel. Prehispanic codes and temples, chemicals, and molecules, also appear, along with Ruth Rivera, Diego Rivera’s daughter.

art
MX TV Día Mundial del Agua | © Secretaria de Cultura/Flickr

5. Omniscience (Omnisciencia) – José Clemente Orozco

Omniscience or omnisciencia is a Mexican mural in an iconic restaurant that used to be a palace in downtown Mexico City. The building is colloquially called the Casa de los azulejos (House of Tiles). The sensibility of this piece is greater than in others: man and woman united by grace. 

Some people vandalized murals in Public High School 1, which led Orozco to take a break from his career. He was in charge of the making of 22 pieces in the school. The Counts of Orizaba asked him to paint the walls of the staircase. 

If you visit Mexico City, go downtown for a cup of coffee at the House of Tiles, where artists and politicians met. 

Mexican murals
Omniscience mural at The House of Tiles by Orozco | © Jay Galvin/Flickr

6. Mexico:Culture and Society that is Reborn (México: cultura y sociedad que renace) – Seher One

The original name of this modern mural on the Jeanne D’Arc building downtown was  Quetzalcóatl baila con sus hijos en el Mictlán (Quetzalcóatl Dances with his Children in Mictlán). 

The 2017 earthquake damaged the facade of the mural, as well as the psyche of all Mexicans. It was the first area where buildings collapsed in the 1985 earthquake, which occurred on the same day: September 19. 

The piece had to be restored, so artist Seher One decided to make changes to it meanwhile. He used prehispanic symbols to represent empathy, teamwork, and courage. 

Seher painted Quetzalcóatl not as a God but as a symbol for unity among Mexicans, the same one everyone around the world witnessed on that day. Many videos of the earthquake’s aftermath went viral because they showed Mexicans running towards the collapsed buildings to help people get out. 

A raised fist is the signal adopted by locals to ask for silence in order to hear people shouting beneath the debris. It means “together we can.” Along with the tags “Fuerza México” (Strength to Mexico) and “Mex-I-can,” it became the main symbol of the 2017 earthquake. 

7. The Fusion of Two Cultures in Mexico (La fusión de dos culturas en México) – Jorge González Camarena

 The National History Museum inside Chapultepec Castle houses four Mexican murals by Jorge González Camarena, Juan O’Gorman, Eduardo Solares Gutiérrez and David Alfaro Siqueiros. “The Fusion of Two Cultures in Mexico” is a representation of the mestizaje that people underwent during colonization. 

Blood shed was a consequence of a war between two civilizations: the Spanish represented by a man in armor riding a horse, and the prehispanic one by an eagle-serpent. Both are pierced by a sword and a spear, hence creating the new race.

The vibrant colors depict fire and violence, but that is how societies and new cultures arise. Remember to visit the other Mexican murals, including the famous Retablo de la Independencia  (Independence Altarpiece) by Juan O’Gorman.

Mexican murals
La fusión de dos culturas | © David Cabrera/Flickr

8. The Magical World of the Mayans (El mundo mágico de los Mayas) – Leonora Carrington 

The Magical World of the Mayans is one of Leonora’s Carrington masterpieces and most famous murals in Mexico City. It resides in the  National Anthropology Museum. It is divided in three parts: heaven, Earth, and the infraworld or Katibak. 

The deity Kukulkan—Quetzalcóatl for the Aztecs—is in the middle as a serpiente emplumada (feathered serpent). Xibalba is the name of the infraworld—as it is the Mictlan for the Aztecs—and the Mayan Death God. On the other side of the ceiba tree, it’s the one element uniting the three worlds.

Leonora spent six months in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas to study traditions, customs, herbal medicine, religious practices, and the relation between man and Mayan cosmogony. 

Mexican murals
The Magical World of the Mayans | © Wikimedia Commons

Bonus: More Traditional Murals and Street Art

Are you fascinated by Mexican murals? Let me tell you where to find more. Many are compiled in a single building, museum, or library. 

  • San Ildefonso Museum
  • Public Education Secretariat
  • Bellas Artes
  • UNAM
  • Palacio Nacional
  • Teatro de los Insurgentes
  • Biblioteca Miguel Lerdo de Tejada

Do you love amazing street art? Check out these awesome urban murals in Mexico City:

  • Subway building “Salto del Agua”
  • Plaza La Romita
  • Regina Street
  • Tlalpan Avenue between Ermita and Portales
  • Urban Art Corredor

Learn Spanish and Visit Mexico!

If you are thinking about visiting the colorful, vibrant, unique country of Mexico, get the full experience without the language barrier. By learning Spanish, you not only unlock a new practical tool for your professional and personal life but also open doors to a new world. 

After Chinese, Spanish is the language with the most native speakers in the world and the third most used on the internet. Imagine all you can learn and do by knowing how to speak it! When it comes to trips, you’ll be able to travel easier. Ask for directions, talk to people, exchange ideas, and make lifelong friends. Speaking dramatically improves your comprehension skills and will enhance the quality of your mural-touring experience. 

Here at Homeschool Spanish Academy, we can help with a method that will speed up the process for you. Become part of our community of +24,000 monthly enrolled students who trust and benefit from our 10+ years of expertise. See our pricing and programs and prepare for your trip to Mexico by signing up for a free trial class with a friendly teacher from Guatemala!

sign up for a free trial class
Sign up for your FREE TRIAL CLASS today!

Want to learn more about Latin American culture? Check out our latest posts!

  • 8 Amazing Apps To Learn Spanish While Driving
  • 9 Free Homeschool Curriculum Options with Daily Lesson Plans
  • 25 Famous People Who Speak Spanish as a Second Language
  • Top 10 Inspiring Art Books for Kids Who Homeschool
  • 10 Traditional Latin American Christmas Foods
  • The Best Christmas Traditions in Mexico
  • 10 Fun Spanish Folk Tales for Kids
  • 8 Sad Spanish Songs for When Your Heart Is Broken
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Nicole Canún
Nicole Canún
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
Blogger, content creator, and marketer. Proudly Mexican. Been to 30 countries. I love learning from different cultures and trying their cuisines. Obsessed with Asia. Fluent in Spanish and English, not so much in French.
Nicole Canún
Latest posts by Nicole Canún (see all)
  • The Best Christmas Traditions in Mexico - December 16, 2022
  • 20 Classic Mexican Quotes and Proverbs in Spanish - November 11, 2022
  • These Were the Secret Nazi Colonies in South America - October 31, 2022
curated list
0

Related Posts

Key Benefits of Learning Soanish

3 Key Benefits to Being Bilingual in the Workforce

March 1, 2018
Read More
Storybooks

6 Storybooks in Spanish Your Kids Will Love

March 29, 2018
Read More
common fears

4 Common Fears About Learning a Second Language and How to Overcome Them

April 16, 2018
Read More
Spanish Adaptations

4 of your Child’s Favorite Games that have Spanish Adaptations

May 6, 2018
Read More

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Crochet and Knitting Vocabulary in SpanishPrevious Post
Conducir vs Manejar: What's the Difference Between These Two Spanish Verbs?Next Post

About Us

With over 10 years of experience, HSA is where your goals merge with our teachers’ passion: to improve your Spanish fluency. Custom-tailored to fit your needs, you choose your program, schedule, favorite teachers, pace of learning, and more.. Learn More

Resources

  • About
  • Get a Transcript
  • FAQs
  • How it Works
  • Partners

Recent Posts

  • 8 Amazing Apps To Learn Spanish While Driving
    8 Amazing Apps To Learn Spanish While Driving
    January 17, 2023
    Have you ever thought of learning Spanish...
  • Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
    Spanish Preterite vs Imperfect: 25 Online Exercises to Practice Your Skills
    January 16, 2023
    Are you ready to practice your skills on the...

Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Contact Us© 2022 HSA. All rights reserved.