The museum was founded by three Austin-based artists: Sylvia Orozco, Sam Coronado, and Pio Pulido.
It holds a permanent collection of over 5,000 objects, including a significant assemblage of contemporary Mexican and Chicano prints.
The museum building is located in a structure that was once home to the Miller Blueprint Company.
The annual Viva la Vida festival and parade hosted by the museum is Austin’s longest-running Day of the Dead event.
It is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, facilitating access to national traveling exhibitions.
The museum specifically focuses on the 'Screen It!' program, which educates youth on the art of screen printing.
It holds one of the largest collections of traditional Mexican masks in Texas.
The Mexic-Arte Museum is a premier institution in Austin dedicated to the exhibition and preservation of traditional and contemporary Mexican, Latino, and Latin American art. Established in 1984 by a group of artists, it occupies a historic site on Congress Avenue in downtown Austin. The museum serves as a cultural hub, hosting year-round educational programming, film screenings, and community festivals. Its collection encompasses thousands of pieces, ranging from indigenous artifacts to modern multimedia installations. The museum is renowned for its annual 'Día de los Muertos' celebration, which features elaborate altars and community-led events. It consistently maintains a rotating schedule of temporary exhibitions focusing on Chicano art, Mexican photography, and regional crafts. The facility also houses an extensive reference library and a gift shop specializing in authentic folk art. It functions as one of the few museums in the region specifically focused on the intersection of Mexican and American cultural identity.
The vibrant, rotating mural located on the exterior facade of the building.
Check the online exhibition calendar before visiting to see if your trip coincides with a specific community workshop or artist talk.
Take advantage of the museum gift shop, which sources artisan goods directly from craftspeople in Mexico.
Combine your visit with a walk down Congress Avenue to view the nearby Texas State Capitol.
Do not mistake the museum for a standard gallery; it is a community-focused institution, so expect to see families and school groups during peak educational hours.
Generally closed on major national holidays; check for special hours during local festival weekends.
Photography is permitted for personal use only; avoid flash when signs indicate restrictions.
