Cultural figures sign open letter asking government for clarity on how long landmark collection will remain abroad
One of the world’s most important collections of 20th-century Mexican art, including works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, is set to be exported to Spain under an agreement with Banco Santander, sparking outrage among Mexico’s cultural community.
Nearly 400 cultural professionals have signed an open letter calling on the Mexican government to offer greater clarity on what the deal means for the masterpieces, particularly the works by Kahlo, which the Mexican state has declared an “artistic monument”.
“It’s a very serious issue,” said Francisco Berzunza, a historian and one of eight people who published the open letter. “She [Kahlo] is the most important artist in the history of our country and it’s easier to see her work outside of Mexico than in Mexico itself.”
The row centres on a collection of 160 works from the Gelman collection, rebranded as the Gelman Santander collection. Originally owned by the collectors Jacques and Natasha Gelman, the paintings, sketches and photographs were bought by the Mexican Zambrano family in 2023.
