Querétaro is once again in the national spotlight, this time for its art. This month, a historic collection of original pieces by Andy Warhol, considered the “father” of pop art in the United States, will arrive at the Querétaro Museum of Contemporary Art (MACQ).
The exhibition, titled “After Warhol,” will open on May 22 at the cultural center, thanks to an initiative spearheaded by the Creative Industries Cluster. In April, the Cluster organized an auction at the Club de Industriales featuring more than 70 works by artists such as Francisco Toledo, Joan Miró, Rufino Tamayo, Leonora Carrington, Luis Filcer, Pedro Coronel, Byron Gálvez, and Warhol himself, among others.
According to Ana Paola López Birlain, the Secretary of Culture for the State of Querétaro, the funds raised from the sale will allow the collection to be brought to Mexico, as well as cover the costs of insurance and installation.
“It won’t just be about witnessing his art, but about experiencing the various creative industries that Warhol impacted. It will be an immersive exhibition. Querétaro is ready to receive and also export talent and creativity to the world,” stated the official.
The exhibition was organized with the support of transdisciplinary artist Juan José Díaz Infante Jr., who served as the main liaison. Complete details of the exhibition will be announced next week during a press conference in Mexico City.
“We are holding the press conference in Mexico City because, since the news leaked, there has been a lot of interest from other states in joining this creative circuit that we are building in Querétaro and in visiting the city,” added López Birlain.
The opening will take place on May 22 as part of the Night of Museums program.
WHY IS THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES CLUSTER ORGANIZING IT?
The secretary explained that this exhibition represents the first major initiative of the year promoted by the Cluster, with the goal of showcasing the economic and social impact that art and creativity can generate.
“It’s a way to understand the value of creativity in the development of Querétaro. What we’re going to see is the possibility of integrating art and culture into different disciplines and into the industrial vocation of our state, and how we can transition from a manufacturing industry to a ‘mindfacturing’ industry, where creativity will be a fundamental part,” she noted.
According to Asomarte, the monthly magazine of the State Tourism Secretariat, the exhibition will present Warhol not only as a pop art icon, but also as a photographer, publicist, entrepreneur, and cultural strategist, “exploring how he integrated art, media, and business into a single language.”
It will also offer a contemporary interpretation of his work to explore how the artist anticipated dynamics that continue to shape culture, creativity, and cultural markets today.
Source: oem
