The end of the Mexican revolution sparked a new era of art in the country, fueling politically and socially conscious artists, and strengthened the ties between art and the public. This was the age of Mexican Muralism. Spearheading this new movement were “the big three” painters and muralists, Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros.

This transformation of art was not contained solely to Mexico; it’s energy, ideas, and aesthetics spilled over to its neighbor north of the border, the USA. American artists at this time were also interested in creating their own voice and style, eager to break away from traditional European ideas and aesthetics of art.

As a result, many American artists travelled to Mexico to learn from the pioneers of the Mexican mural movement, and many leading Mexican artists of the time, such as Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros were invited to the United States to create public works across the country, in cities such as New York, Detroit, and San Francisco.

Below is a photograph of David Alfaro Siqueiros with Jackson Pollock. Both Siqueiros and Orozco were influential in helping Pollock develop as one of the world’s greatest twentieth Century artists.

Next year, in 2020 the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York) will curate an exhibition — Vida Americana: Mexican Muralists Remake American Art, 1925-1945 — to honor this period in history and the fusion between Mexican and American Art. The exhibition will take place from February to May, and will incorporate approximately 300 works of art from 85 artists of the time, both American and Mexican.  

Curator: Barbara Haskell
Assistant curator: Marcela Guerrero

To read the official statement put out by the Whitney Museum of American Art regarding the exhibition, click the button below.