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About the Kaluz Collection

The Kaluz Collection has been developed over the past thirty years. It comprises approximately two thousand works, thoughtfully curated to foster meaningful dialogue among the artists it brings together. One of its core aims is to highlight exceptional painters who, despite being overlooked by art historians or the market, remain integral to Mexico’s visual imagination. The collection also includes contemporary works by living artists representative of our time.

Rather than offering a linear or comprehensive overview of Mexican art, the collection reflects the personal vision of its founder, driven by his individual taste and sensibility. Simultaneously, the artworks come together to narrate the story of the nation itself. Anchored in a strong tradition of figurative art—from the 18th century to the present—the collection’s landscapes, still lifes, portraits, and genre scenes are particularly striking. These visual languages intertwine to create a rich tapestry of narratives about who we are: our people and land, our customs, tools, and food. It is a collection that celebrates the essence of what makes us uniquely Mexican—what gives shape to our identity.

The collection encompasses more than 8,000 objects, spanning from the viceregal period to contemporary art. Among its most notable holdings is a unique archival collection dedicated to the foremost 19th-century Mexican artist, José María Velasco, comprising over 2,000 items. It also includes the country’s most significant assemblage related to the Spanish Exile in Mexico, with more than 800 works. Finally, the collection houses the most important repository of Japanese art in Latin America.

Introduction

Antonio del Valle Ruiz

Situated on a striking corner in the Historic Center of Mexico City—facing the Alameda Central at the intersection of Avenida Hidalgo and Paseo de la Reforma—the iconic viceregal building, clad in tezontle stone and adorned with cantera, once served as the Augustinian hospice of Santo Tomás de Villanueva. It now houses the Kaluz Collection—a strong ensemble of Mexican artworks—as well as temporary exhibitions and a variety of cultural events.

Guided by the belief that a better environment enhances quality of life, the Museo Kaluz project fulfills a dual mission: to safeguard Mexico’s architectural heritage and to invite the public to engage with culture and knowledge. The restoration of this historic building opens its doors to a site whose privileged location connects with a rich urban legacy, rooted in both Mexico-Tenochtitlan and the colonial city.

With this addition, the city not only gains a new and inviting recreational space that meaningfully expands this important cultural corridor—anchored by the Alameda Central—but also sees the northern edge of the park, along Avenida Hidalgo, revitalized into a vibrant counterpart to its more established southern side.

About the Building

The history of the Hospedería de Santo Tomás de Villanueva is closely tied to the urban development of ancient Tenochtitlan, particularly the Mexico-Tacuba viaduct, the oldest road on the American continent. Founded by the Augustinian order in New Spain, the hospedería honors Saint Thomas of Villanueva, a mirroring his missionary work in the Americas and Philippines. Its strategic location—at the boundary between the Spanish city center and the Indigenous quarters—allowed the surrounding buildings to form a valuable architectural ensemble, now recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the building served various purposes: it was a residence, commercial space, gas station, and later the famous Hotel de Cortés. It underwent multiple alterations due to urban projects such as the extension of Paseo de la Reforma and the construction of the Metro. The restoration project aimed to recover the building’s original splendor and addressed the loss of its corner section through an exceptional artistic intervention: the mural Jardín urbano (Urban Garden) by Vicente Rojo. This abstract work, harmoniously integrated with the stone materials of the facade, provides visual and symbolic continuity, highlighting the artistic and comprehensive vision of the Museo Kaluz’s cultural project.

Welcome to Museo Kaluz

A space to share, learn and experience Mexico’s cultural heritage through a variety of experiences and our collection.

Visiting hours

Tickets

Location

Urban Observatory

Exhibitions

About the Kaluz Collection

Introduction

Antonio del Valle Ruiz

About the Building