A Haven for Artists
Some 30-odd artists and artisans showcase their creations in the stores, galleries and boutiques of Todos Santos, making it impossible to leave without taking home a piece of this Magical Town (and Mexico).
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It might be because of the great weather and delicious food, or maybe it’s the scenery and rich biodiversity or the colorful streets… All we can say for sure is that people from around the globe have fallen in love with Todos Santos, forming a unique melting pot that has begotten an artists’ paradise.
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Designer boutiques, art galleries, myriad stores and craft markets urge visitors to take a little piece of this Magical Town with them, if and when they leave.
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Hidden inside are all kinds of objects and works of art, from textiles and ceramics with Mexican motifs to lithographs, engravings and paintings, some for sale, others only on display.
※ In keeping with the town’s artsy atmosphere, some galleries run workshops open to the public at different times of the year, while others host book presentations, concerts, temporary exhibitions and food festivals. Check some of them out…
GALERÍA LOGAN ※※
Where Juárez and Morelos streets intersect, there is a mosaic-covered house where you can view the paintings of Jill Logan. This internationally acclaimed American artist is known for her original oil and mixed technique paintings that take her months to complete due to the layering involved.
༅ Logan’s recurring themes are landscapes and portraits, generally Mexican and brightly colored. Aside from her oil paintings on canvas, she has experimented with acrylic, paper and jute, among other materials.
BÉSAME MUCHO BAZAAR ※※
Designer Rouss Ramírez has created this vibrant, eclectic bazaar housed in a sprawling home.
Featuring objects collected during her travels in Mexico and abroad, everything on display is for sale and each item has a story behind it, whether it’s a piece of jewelry, a pair of shoes, artwork or vintage clothes.
༅ Attend a live music session, and enjoy listening and snacks as you chat to the artists and artisans whose hands crafted these pieces. It’s become customary to take a photo with the Aztec calendar before you go or leave a padlock as a symbol of your love, if you’ve come with your partner.
GALERÍA DE TODOS SANTOS ※※
This gallery on Topete Street opened its doors in 1994. Run by Michael Cope, it was the first gallery in the area to show the work of painters and sculptors. Most of the works are by Mexican artists and depict Mexican themes, but foreign painters are also shown, as are pieces that explore a variety of subject matters.
༅ Among the artists shown here are Aníbal Angulo, Peter Cole, Emanuela Gardner, Peter Holden, Erick Ochoa and Michael Cope himself. The gallery organizes monthly forums where visitors have a chance to talk to local artists about painting, sculpture, ceramics, design, music, writing and other topics
LA SONRISA DE LA MUERTE ※※
Don’t be fooled by the name, Death’s Smile: the mission of this art gallery and graphic arts studio is to promote emerging talents and established artists from Mexico and further afield who are very much alive. Many of the art objects, engravings, lithographs and textiles displayed here are also for sale.
Opened in 2014 by Cedric Volon, a graphic designer and plastic artist from Belgium, the gallery focuses on contemporary art and enjoys the curatorship and support of Argentinean artists Saskia Onvlee and Carlos Domin, while its graphic production workshop has established it as a platform for cultural exchange and learning.
༅ We advise you to keep tabs on its social media so you don’t miss any of the special events and exhibitions. Incidentally, La Sonrisa de la Muerte has a sister gallery in Brussels called Calaveras (Skulls), with which it works closely.
AGUA Y SOL ※※
Agua y Sol, on Manuel Márquez de León Street, specializes in fine jewelry from Taxco and craft pieces imported from all over Mexico. Some of its pieces, which range from paintings, hand-decorated metallic pieces and Olinalá trays, wooden crucifixes and souvenirs of Todos Santos, have been created exclusively for the store. The invitation is to come on in and browse at your leisure.
GALERÍA N.E. HAYLES ※※
On the outskirts of Todos Santos, near the gas station, is a studio where N.E. Hayles gives art classes. Learn to paint portraits, angels and abstract scenes, but her sessions are limited to a maximum of eight students, so remember to reserve in advance. Some of the artist’s own paintings and paper tile mosaics are exhibited here.
LA MIGRANTE GALERÍA ※※
Opened in October 2022, this small gallery aims to bring together not just art, but the people behind it and those who appreciate it. Located close to the main bus station, Central de Autobuses, it shows works by emerging Mexican and foreign artists, including internationally acclaimed ones. Exhibitions change frequently, so you’re guaranteed something new every time you come back.
CIELITO LINDO MARKET ※※
If you’re looking to buy Mexican crafts or a pretty souvenir of your time in Todos Santos, this market is your best option. From Aztec calendars, beaded bracelets and fantastical wooden animals known as alebrijes to embroidered textiles in a range of techniques and items of jewelry, the choice is endless. The magnets, colorful license plates, keyrings and can-openers with scenes of Todos Santos make great gifts.
※ Aside from the artists and artisans already mentioned, Todos Santos has proven a source of inspiration for many others, like Eric Durazo, who enjoys painting seascapes, and Gabriel Rodríguez Villalpando, whose colorful abstract art is shown at Galería Gabo.
※ It’s also common to see locals selling crafts and souvenirs, and for hotels and restaurants to display works of art. For example, at Posada La Poza you can admire the paintings of hotel co-owner Libusche Wiesendanger. Then there’s Café Índigo, which has its own side gallery exhibiting the works of Díaz Castro, Nikki King, Jennifer Lindberg, Vincent Lamote and Robert E. Wood, to drop just a few names.
※ What’s more, artistic events are held here all year round, the most important of these being the Art Festival, held between February and March.
