The Zambrano family has formalized a new administration scheme for the Gelman Collection, one of the most significant private holdings of modern Mexican art, to ensure its preservation and public access. Acquired in 2023, the collection is currently on display at Mexico's Museo de Arte Moderno, drawing over 50,000 visitors in its first showing in the country in nearly two decades.
The Gelman Collection, comprising over 200 works, originated in 1943 when Diego Rivera painted Natasha Gelman's portrait on commission from her and her husband Jacques. After Jacques's death in 1986 and Natasha's in 1998, curator Robert R. Littman managed it through Fundación Vergel, adding contemporary and European pieces.
In 2023, the Zambrano family acquired the collection to return it to Mexican ownership. It features 10 oils by Frida Kahlo, as well as works by José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo, among other iconic 20th-century artists.
It is now on view at the Museo de Arte Moderno, attracting more than 50,000 visitors. The Zambrano family signed an agreement with Fundación Banco Santander for its administration, while the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura will oversee its physical condition and authorize transfers.
The arrangement enables exhibitions in Mexico and international museums via temporary exports, with a return guarantee. Ownership remains in Mexican hands, safeguarding this cultural heritage.
