GDL Art Crawl & Studio Tour Visit
Description
This tour takes you behind closed doors to discover Guadalajara's thriving art scene! The places we visit are off-the-beaten-path, hidden gems, including artist studios and private galleries/showrooms, where you will meet local artists (both emerging and established), and have the chance to chat with them, see what they're working on, and learn more about what makes Guadalajara an incredible arts destination. This tour is a must-do for (contemporary) art collectors, artists, and art lovers! What we do on each tour is subject to change, depending on artists’ availability, and which galleries have exhibitions on. You can count on visiting: -3+ smaller / lesser-known galleries -3+ artist studios (not open to the general public) -Street art / graffiti murals -Perhaps a special surprise… Remember, what's happening in the local art scene is always changing, and temporary events/exhibitions/bazaars/etc. pop up regularly!
Tour Options
Itinerary
1) Cup Cafe - We start at this small cafe, owned by a talented local painter who also uses the cafe as his studio. Guests are welcome to get a hot or cold coffee or tea to start things off as we chat with the artist.
2) Sepia Gallery - This gallery opened in 2022 and frequently changes over exhibitions by talented local artists, both established and emerging. A young local sculptor also has his studio here, and we get the chance to chat with him about his work.
3) Tenango Cafe - This cafe hosts exhibitions of prints and paintings by local artists.
4) La Bodega - This hidden warehouse-style studio is home to an amazing young female ceramics artist, as well as one of the city's top painters. Both artists and their assistants are thrilled to be able to describe their processes to guests.
5) Stop for Refreshments - By this point we've already seen a TON of amazing art and done a fair amount of walking. It's a good moment to make a quick stop at a shop to pick up any refreshments guests may want (beers, cocktails-in-a-can, water, juice, pop, snacks - all are included in the price of the tour).
6) Taller Casa Gato - This is another hidden studio, where two painters work in a range of styles. We enjoy our refreshments while chatting with them and viewing their art.
7) Unnamed Studio - This small studio is where two of Guadalajara's most ambitious young artists works (mostly doing painting, but also printmaking, ceramics and other media). Guests will be fascinated by their explanations of their works.
8) No Somos Nada - This hidden spot has an art gallery and studio spaces for 7 of the most energetic and creative young local artists. They are always excited to tell guests about their work.
9) La Extensión - Guests often say that we "saved the best for last"! This large group studio opened in September of 2023 and is literally "an extension" of several other studios and galleries. The artists and works in the space are constantly changing, with paintings, sculptures, two printmaking studios and more! Don't be surprised if a party or other special event is already getting started in La Extensión around the time that we visit... if so, you will be invited to stay for the fun!
*What we do on each tour is subject to change, depending on artists’ availability, and which galleries have exhibitions on. Sometimes we are unable to visit certain galleries or studios. Sometimes we will visit additional galleries or studios that are not usually on our route, for instance if a special event is happening. Please feel free to send a message when you book telling us if you are looking for a particular type of art, and we will do our best to tailor the tour to your preferences. **please do notify me upon booking if anyone in your group has mobility issues, so I can do my best to accommodate!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Remaining time is allotted for the travel time for each itinerary
Reviews(66)
This was a very interesting, informative and informal introduction to some of Guadalajara’s art scene in terms of studios, artists, overall vibe. Ally, our accomplished guide originally from Canada, is very well connected and knows much about who’s who. Highly recommend even if you just want to see another side/aspect of this amazing city! 5/5 ❤️👌
I had heard Guadalajara had a great arts scene and it's one of the reasons I wanted to go. This tour with Alexandra was a highlight of my trip - meeting local artists, seeing various styles, exhibits and neighborhoods through the eyes of a local was a really nice way to spend the day. I saw a lot of beautiful paintings and prints and was able to bring one home to remember my trip . Thanks Alexandra!
For starters, I was visiting GDL on a solo trip and Alexandra was very accommodating to reschedule me due having a weather related issue at home. We ended up meeting together and right off the bat she was very welcoming. She introduces the artists to you to speak about their piece. Given my amount of questions and curiosity, I managed to take much longer than anticipated but Alex didn’t make me feel discouraged. It was a safe area to crawl around finding hidden studios. I will definitely be coming back to find more hidden gems and recommend her to anyone seeking a more in depth experience to Guadalajara’s art world.
What a fun experience! The tour was a cool way to not only see a fun neighborhood in Guadalajara, but also meet some really amazing artists and view their work. I love doing things art-related in any city, but it's usually museums or shopping. Ally made this feel like a true insiders-look and it was so great to actually meet the artists, ask questions, and hear why they create. This tour is a gem and made our trip feel complete.
We absolutely loved this tour. We met artists in their studios. So great. I'll repeat what others have said; we never would have known about these studios if Alexandra didn't bring us there. She was amazing. So much talent in Guadalajara. 200% recommended.
Every part of this experience was 5 stars, great communication from Ally from the very first contact, rapport with the artists & general interest along the walk. Interesting how many of these artists have works all over Mexico, many in public spaces, collaborations or commercially. I felt truly humbled by their talents.
Alexandra was helpful even well before the tour -=she texted immediately upon booking and even helped with restaurant reservations. She took us to artist studios that we would never find on our own and that would not otherwise be open to the public.
I don’t even have the words to say what an amazing experience this was. Alexandra did a great job of making sure we saw a huge variety of art, and met with most of the artists, seeing the spaces they work, hearing about their processes and ideas behind the work. The only thing we had to think about was how much art we could carry home (although Alexandra can assist in shipping) . Before the tour we were asked about anything specific we wanted to see. (The printing studio was amazing). We started the actual tour by picking up drinks for the artists and ourselves. We then went to 4 (?) different collectives/work spaces where we met about 10 artists. Many of the spaces also had other artists work to view as well. No one was pushy about selling, and everyone was so generous with their time and willingness to share about their art and the experience of being an artist in Guadalajara. After the tour Alexandra send a text list of all the artists we saw as well as links to their Instagram accounts. She is also an amazing resource for information about life in Guadalajara as a non native. The only thing I would have changed… maybe I wouldn’t have gone and seen a bunch of art with my day before the tour. My head is still spinning from everything I saw. When I am back in Guadalajara I will absolutely sign up for this trip again!
This is the best tour to be immersed in a variety of art styles off the beaten path in Guadalajara. Alexandra is highly connected to the artists community and is a wealth of information about the scene. The best part of the tour is visiting and chatting with multiple artists in one day right in their studios. An afternoon well spent in Guadalajara!
I learned lots of intriguing things about arts!
