Mexican Cultural Institute DC

09/02/2026

Despedimos con gran tristeza a Geles Cabrera (1926-2026), pionera de la escultura contemporánea en México, fundadora del Salón de la Plástica Mexicana e incansable promotora del arte en nuestro país, quien falleció el pasado 1 de septiembre.

Con tan solo 22 años, fue la primera mujer en exponer su obra fuera de México, además de una de las primeras alumnas de escultura en la Academia de San Carlos. Originaria de la Ciudad de México, su esfuerzo y talento la llevaron a formar parte de la generación conocida como La Ruptura y marcaron el camino para generaciones de artistas mexicanas.

Desde el Instituto Cultural Mexicano en Washington, D.C. nos sumamos al abrazo colectivo en solidaridad con sus familiares, colegas y amigos.

09/01/2026

September marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, and we're kicking off the celebration with an invitation to the opening reception of "Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: Voices Through Visuals" at Del Ray Artisans Gallery.

Through a diverse range of media and perspectives, the exhibit explores themes of heritage, migration, family, cultural pride, and transformation.

📅 Friday, September 4 | 7–9PM
📍 2704 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA
🔗 Learn more: https://delrayartisans.org/2026/07/voices-through-visuals-pr/

08/31/2026

🎭 La Pluma Theatre presents the world premiere of "Nation-State": A Live Experiment (The Smallest Country in the World), a groundbreaking testimonial theatre experience and Washington, D.C.'s first-ever production of its kind.

Each night, actor-playwright Victor Salinas is joined by a guest artist who has never seen the script, creating the "Smallest Country in the World" together in real time — making every performance completely unique.

The show runs Wednesday, September 2 through 13, 2026, at Dupont Underground. Get your tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/nation-state-a-live-experiment

08/30/2026

Once the great Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan, today a sprawling modern metropolis — Mexico City takes center stage in the Smithsonian Magazine September/October 2026 issue!

Writer Tony Perrottet and photographer Alicia Vera journey through some of the city's 171 museums and hidden corners to uncover its layered history, from the world's largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts, to ancient ruins beneath hotel lobbies, to the preserved homes of Frida Kahlo and Gabriel García Márquez.

Read the full story:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/frida-kahlo-home-stunning-antiquities-just-some-offerings-bolstered-mexico-citys-fantastic-museums-180989293/

08/29/2026

📢 Sold out: Our Food of La Frontera Book Presentation with Pati Jinich has officially reached full capacity.

Thank you to everyone who reserved a spot, your love and support made this happen! We can't wait to welcome Pati back with open arms at the Mexican Cultural Institute on September 13. See you there!

08/28/2026

Behind the scenes: We're putting the finishing touches on the opening of "My Conversations with Luis Barragán", a photography exhibition where light, color, geometry, and silence become a dialogue with Luis Barragán's architecture, through the lens of Mexican-American visual artist Martirene Alcántara.

Open to the public September 4. Learn more: https://instituteofmexicodc.org/index.php/stec_event/my-conversations-with-barragan/

08/26/2026

🎥 The Festival full lineup is here! Explore all the titles in this year's edition, including these Mexican productions:

🎬 ASHES (Dir. Diego Luna)
🎬 EVERYTHING ELSE IS NOISE (Dir. Nicolás Pereda)
🎬 FLIES (Dir. Fernando Eimbcke)
🎬 I AM MARIO (Dir. Sharon Kleinberg)
🎬 SAD GIRLZ (Dir. Fernanda Tovar)
🎬 OLMO (Dir. Fernando Eimbcke)
🎬 Short Film FOR THE OPPONENTS (Dir. Federico Luis)

Plus, don't miss the special presentation of CAMPEÓN GABACHO (Dir. Jonás Cuarón) on October 2, featuring a live Q&A with the filmmaker Jonás Cuarón and a post-screening reception sponsored by the Mexican Cultural Institute.

🎟️ Catch the $10 Ticket One-Day Sale on Friday, August 28, 10:00AM–10:00PM: https://afi.com/Silver/LAFF

08/24/2026

"My Conversations with Luis Barragán": An Exhibition by Mexican-American visual artist Martirene Alcántara opens to the public on September 4.

This photographic exhibition explores the architecture of Luis Barragán through perception, memory, and emotion.

In her photographs, Alcántara approaches architecture not simply as something to be observed, but as something to be experienced, remembered, and felt. Through her lens, Barragán’s carefully composed spaces become a dialogue of light, color, geometry, rhythm, and silence.

Rather than simply documenting Barragán’s architecture, Alcántara looks for what might otherwise remain hidden: a fleeting shadow, a fragment of color, a reflection, or a moment of light. Her photographs invite us to consider how architecture can move beyond the physical and become an emotional and personal experience.

Learn more: https://instituteofmexicodc.org/index.php/stec_event/my-conversations-with-barragan/

08/24/2026

Meet Pati Jinich as she kicks off her Foods of La Frontera Book Tour at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C.!

See you on Sunday, September 13 for an inspiring evening with Pati Jinich—James Beard Award-winning chef, Emmy-nominated television host, and one of the leading ambassadors of Mexican cuisine in the United States—as she presents her latest book and discusses the stories, experiences, and flavors that inspired it.

Following a conversation with Cecilia Vega and Enrique Perret + Q&A with the audience, guests are invited to a book signing and reception featuring a special food spread from Tacombi inspired by Foods of La Frontera, along with special wines from CASA MADERO, the oldest winery in the Americas, which will be featured in an upcoming episode of Season 15 of Pati’s Mexican Table.

🎟️ Each ticket includes a copy of the new book. Few tickets left: https://events.humanitix.com/foods-of-la-frontera-book-presentation-with-pati-jinich

08/21/2026

Today marks 110 years since Consuelo Velázquez was born, the celebrated Mexican composer who secretly wrote "Bésame mucho," one of history's most famous love songs.

She hid her authorship, fearing it would hurt her career as a classical pianist. Once revealed, the song topped the U.S. charts and was later covered by Sinatra, Elvis, and The Beatles.

🎧 BBC's Witness History spoke to her son about her rise to fame:

History told by the people who were there