Mexico City & Why Travel Is Essential to My Creative Practice
I recently had an incredible opportunity to travel to Mexico City with a couple of friends, with one very specific intention: to see as much art and as many museums as we possibly could in 4.5 days.
It was ambitious. It was energizing. It was completely inspiring.
We packed our days full. We visited both the Frida Kahlo Museums, wandered through the Museo de Arte Popular (folk art), and explored contemporary work at the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo.
And somehow- completely by accident- we chose to visit during Mexico City’s Art Week!
It felt like the city was buzzing even more than usual. We caught a few exhibits connected to it, but our absolute favorite was Salón ACME. The building alone was breathtaking- layered, textural, raw, and beautiful — truly a work of art in itself. The combination of emerging artists, bold ideas, and the atmosphere of creative momentum was unforgettable.
Mexico City is vibrant, inspiring, and endlessly interesting. It’s full of museums, art, delicious food, and deep, living history. Ancient and contemporary coexist there in a way that feels seamless. You can stand in front of centuries-old artifacts in the morning and experience cutting-edge contemporary installations in the afternoon.
That kind of immersion changes you.
Travel, especially when centered around art- expands your creative vocabulary. It sharpens your observation. It shifts your sense of scale. It reminds you that creativity is a long, ongoing conversation and that you’re stepping into something much bigger than yourself.
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust
Mexico City gave me new eyes.
New color combinations. New textures. New ways of thinking about storytelling and space. I’m already feeling it all seeping into my work.
I came home with a full camera roll, but more importantly, I came home creatively reawakened. Inspired & renewed.
And the best part? We barely scratched the surface. There are still so many museums left to see! I’ll absolutely be going back.
--Michelle
