Shopping for Art and Kitsch in Guadalajara, Mexico

Guadalajara, Mexico’s second largest city is considered by many to be the premier center of traditional Mexican culture. Mariachi music and tequila made their origins in Guadalajara and its environs. Guadalajara’s cultural history and cosmopolitan environment have made it a fascinating mecca for Mexican artists and artisans. Whether you are looking to buy fine arts are kitschy crafts, you are likely to fine something that interests in you in the shops of Guadalajara.

Although there are arts and crafts to be found within the city center, most shoppers will have more success searching within the artists’ colonies of Tlaquepaque, and TonalÃ?¡. Both of these originated as separate communities that have since been enveloped completely by urban sprawl and are now very much within the city of Guadalajara.

Tlaquepaque is probably the most renowned of the two artist colonies. Tlaquepaque is the place where you are likely to find exclusive art galleries, and acclaimed sculptors and painters-hard at work in their studios. On the high end is the gallery/studio of the world famous sculptor and jewelry designer, Sergio Bustamante. The gallery itself is stunning-beautifully laid out with urban minimalist d�©cor-and his work certainly has its own distinctive flavor. The gallery is certainly worth a look around, even if this is no where near your price range. Otherwise, while much of the work you find in Tlaquepaque is likely to be of an artier quality than the craft shops of Tonal�¡, you still will, most likely, spend considerably less than you would on comparable-quality artwork in the United States.

Tlaquepaque also boasts a number of impressive galleries which are open to the public. Check out the Refugio. The large, rambling building is a one hundred and fifty-year-old former convent which serves as a fine arts center for the area. The building alone (and the courtyards scattered throughout it) are worth a trip, it also houses a number of small galleries. The Museo Regional de Cer�¡mica y Arte Popular is a Tlaquepaque must-see-a museum which explains how some of the local craftsmanship has traditionally been executed. There is an old fashioned, mechanical weaving loom there on display, that guests are allowed to operate, as part of the learning process.

Tonal�¡, despite its proximity to Guadalajara proper, is slightly more isolated and has retained a little more of its former small town charm than Tlaquepaque. The artisans there, in general, are less renowned than those in Tlaquepaque, and while prices generally are lower, there is, very often, a reason for it.. Therefore, if you are willing to look for them, you can find real bargains here. Be warned though, you will have to look past the crates of ceramic Sponge Bobs in order to do so. Try to look past the countless souvenir shops and find the locally crafted gems.

The flavor of Guadalajara art is the essence of what those of us north of the border think that south of the border are should be-and Guadalajara probably offers the best specimens of this artwork. A visit to these artists’ communities will prove a worthy pilgrimage for both serious art buyers as well as those just looking for a little colorful ornamentation for their homes. Whatever you happen to be looking for, and whatever your budget is, there is probably something for you there.