Dr. Katherine Crawford Luber Mia’s Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director & President | Minneapolis Institute Of Art
Dr. Katherine Crawford Luber Mia’s Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director & President | Minneapolis Institute Of Art
The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) has announced a forthcoming exhibition dedicated to José María Velasco, a prominent 19th-century Mexican painter. Titled "José María Velasco: A View of Mexico," the exhibition will run from September 27, 2025, to January 4, 2026. This event offers an opportunity for audiences in Minneapolis to view Velasco's works, which are typically housed in Mexican collections.
Velasco is renowned for his paintings of the Valle de México, capturing the natural beauty and industrial changes during a period of significant social transformation. His art not only serves as visual masterpieces but also as historical documentation of Mexico’s landscapes and cultural shifts.
Valeria Piccoli, Mia’s Ken and Linda Cutler Chair of the Arts of the Americas and Curator of Latin American Art, stated that "Velasco holds a place in Mexican art history comparable to Albert Bierstadt or Frederic Church in the United States." She expressed enthusiasm about introducing Velasco's work to a broader audience and highlighted Mia's commitment to showcasing artists from Central and South America.
Katie Luber, President of Mia, remarked on the exhibition's alignment with their mission to connect global art histories with local audiences. She noted that Velasco’s landscapes could inspire discussions about change, resilience, and cultural identity.
Visitors will have the chance to compare Velasco’s paintings with those by American landscape artists like Bierstadt and Moran displayed nearby. These comparisons encourage reflection on themes such as colonialism and ecological change.
A scholarly catalogue will accompany the exhibition. It represents the first monographic study on Velasco published outside Mexico. The catalogue includes essays by scholars from various countries including Mexico, Britain, and the U.S., featuring contributions from Valeria Piccoli.
The exhibition is organized in collaboration with London's National Gallery. The National Gallery will host its presentation from March 29 through August 17, 2025. The curators include Dexter Dalwood and Daniel Sobrino Ralston from London.
The exhibition at Mia will be held at Bell Court with free admission for all visitors.
For more details on this exhibition or others at Mia, visit www.artsmia.org.
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