The museum was founded in 1956, originally starting as a meeting place for intellectuals and artists before evolving into a formal museum.
The main exhibition building was designed by architects Manuel Lago and Jorge Arango in the late 1960s, reflecting mid-century modern aesthetics.
The museum maintains an extensive collection of over 300 original prints and graphic works by local and international masters.
The outdoor sculpture garden features works placed specifically to interact with the natural flora of the Cali River valley.
The facility includes a specialized film archive and screening room that functions as one of the few dedicated arthouse cinema venues in the city.
La Tertulia Museum is the primary institution for modern and contemporary art in Cali, Colombia, situated on the banks of the Cali River. The museum complex consists of multiple exhibition spaces, including the principal gallery building, the Cinemateca, and the outdoor sculpture garden. Its permanent collection features significant works by Colombian artists, focusing on graphic arts and plastic arts from the 20th and 21st centuries. The Cinemateca frequently screens independent, international, and arthouse cinema, serving as a hub for the local film community. The museum campus integrates modernist architectural design with the surrounding tropical landscape. It regularly hosts temporary international exhibitions, academic workshops, and cultural events. The grounds provide a space for both internal observation of art and external public engagement along the river corridor.
The wide outdoor staircases and pathways in the sculpture garden, framing the art against the riverbank vegetation.
Visit the Cinemateca schedule online beforehand if you are interested in specific independent film screenings.
Wear comfortable walking shoes to explore the outdoor sculpture garden, which includes uneven paths and sloped terrain.
Bring an umbrella or raincoat, as afternoon showers are common in Cali's tropical climate, even during the dry season.
Do not overlook the outdoor sculpture garden, as many visitors focus only on the main gallery building.
Closed on Mondays.
Photography is generally allowed for personal use, but flash and tripods are prohibited inside the galleries; maintain a low voice in exhibition halls.
