Nestled amid the Andes Mountains, Quito is a city bustling with culture. From the national treasures of Ecuadorian art such as Oswaldo Guayasamín to cutting-edge street art festivals, Quito offers an immense artistic diversity and cultural venues, exhibition spaces and museums to match. Here is a selection of ten of the best contemporary art galleries in Quito.
Centro de Arte Contemporàneo
Museum
The Centre for Contemporary Arts of Quito is located in one of the most interesting and historically relevant buildings in the city. The construction of the building was ordered by president Eloy Alfaro at the turn of the 20th century and, over the years, the site has served as a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients, military barracks and military hospital until it was completely abandoned and subsequently illegally occupied. In 2006 the City of Quito reclaimed this illustrious building and decided to renovate it. The Antiguo Hospital Militar was once again opened to the public in 2008 as the Centro de Arte Contemporàneo. With its many pavilions and exhibition halls, supplied with state-of-the-art equipment, and its incredible programme of exhibitions, conferences and workshops CAC is an outstanding example of what Quito’s art scene has to offer.
MarsuArte
MarsuArte first opened its doors to Quito’s art scene over 28 years ago. Since 1985, this gallery has expanded its activity to include three different exhibition spaces, leading it to become one of the most active galleries in Ecuador. MarsuArte features works from established Ecuadorian and South American artists such as Elvira Valenzuela with her stainless steel sculptures, Patricio Bermeo, known for his abstract paintings, Marco Vàsquez and his luminous landscapes as well as a selection of 20 internationally renowned artists. In addition to gallery-specific activities, MasruaArte regularly organises some of the most exclusive auctions in Quito.
Oswaldo Guayasamín is one Ecuador’s most remarkable and acclaimed artists. Born in Quito in 1919, Guayasamín manifested his uncanny talent at a very young age; against his father’s will, he studied at the Academy of fine Arts of Quito and hosted his first solo exhibition at the age of 23. His sculptures and painting have been exhibited in the most important museums of the world, from St Petersburg’s to Madrid’s Contemporary Art Museum. His artistic research analyses the spectrum of human pain in relation to the darkest moments of the 20th century. Situated in a beautiful colonial-style villa which used to be the artist’s residence, the House-Museum Guayasamin is a cultural institution created with the purpose of preserving and promoting Guayasamín’s artistic heritage. In addition to hosting 250 of Guayasamín’s paintings, the museum offers access to the artist’s outstanding collection of over 4,000 pre-Columbian and colonial artefacts.
Ileana Viteri
The stark white walls and elegant minimalistic decor are two of the signature elements that complement the contemporary artwork showcased at Ileana Viteri. The core mission of this gallery is that of promoting emerging Ecuadorian and Southern American talents. All forms of artistic expression are welcome here: sculpture, painting, photography and installation. One of the recent exhibitions, Otra Vez, focuses on Lucia Falconì, whose art has been featured in some of the most prominent galleries of Europe and South America. Falconì was also recently hired to create a mural to adorn the dining room of Casa Gangotena, one of Quito’s finest hotels. Otra Vez showcases some of the artist’s most interesting floral-themed artworks and is open to the public until 9 April.
Capilla del Hombre
Museum
Capilla del Hombre is Oswaldo’s Guayasamín ultimate work of art. This cultural and architectural space is a monument to human suffering but most importantly a tribute to the indigenous population of South America and its tragic history. This sculptural chapel contains a selection of Oswaldo Guayasamín’s artworks as well as part of the artist’s collection of pre-Colombian artefacts. Although less comprehensive than the collection found within Oswaldo Guayasamín’s home-museum, the building itself is designed to provide the ideal atmosphere to admire these works of art. Located in the same place as the House-Museum Guayasamin, your entrance fee gains you access to all the sites.
Galeria de Arte Urbano
Galeria de Arte Urbano is probably one of the most exciting events of the year. This unconventional ‘gallery’ is actually an experiment that involves the urban art or graffiti in various locations around Quito. The first urban circuit was created in 2013 and included the works of over 300 artists for 30 consecutive days. Each location has a specific theme and the work is executed by a collective of artists directed by a ‘chief of operations’. With its 3,800 square metres of artistic space, Galeria de Arte Urbano is the one of the biggest open-air art events in the world. While this year’s edition isn’t planned until November, visitors can still admire 2013’s graffiti in their original locations.
With its comprehensive programme of exhibitions, conferences and concerts, the Centro Cultural Metropolitano is the cultural hub around which Quito’s artistic life revolves. Found in a beautiful 400-year-old complex rumoured to have been built on the remains of an ancient Mayan palace, this centre is, first and foremost, dedicated to the promotion and enjoyment of the diverse cultural heritage of the country. Most of the galleries on the first floor host temporary exhibitions and are generally free to the public, while the second floor hosts the Museo Alberto Mena Caamaño, a contemporary and colonial art museum. The most iconic exhibition space of the Centro Cultural Metropolitano is definitely the colonial-style open courtyard with its high glass ceiling and delightful café.
Located on the hill of Itchimbía, this cultural park is also known as Quito’s Pharmacy due to the incredible variety of medicinal herbs that grow nearby. Among its various attractions, the most intriguing is the Palacio de Cristal, an outstanding glass building that overlooks the entire city. The structure was originally brought from Belgium in 1899 and served as a municipal market place for over 100 years. In 2004 the Palacio de Cristal was dismantled and reassembled in its current location as part of the city’s restoration programme and nowadays serves as a space for performing arts, conferences and exhibitions. Thanks to its privileged position and architectural magnificence, the Palacio de Cristal has become one of the symbols of Quito.
Born and raised in sunny Naples, Oreste has always been an avid reader and film enthusiast. Even though as a child he travelled all over Europe with his parents it was only during his first solo intercontinental trip that he discovered the depth of passion for travel and foreign cultures. After completing his BA in Translation Studies he moved to Brussels where he works as a freelance writer and translator. In his free time he enjoys reading, from Russian literature to comic books and anything in between, taking pictures with his vintage Leica and leading a fierce battalion of orcs, trolls and goblins in his favourite online game. Living in Brussels, the centre of Europe, makes it easy to travel anywhere. Whether for a weekend trip or to some more distant land, he always travels with a book in one hand and a camera in the other.
