Diego Rivera is bar none Mexico's most famous artist known
for such works as the Epic of the Mexican People - Mexico Today and Tomorrow,
1934-35 which blankets a wall of Mexico City's Palacio Nacional. His wife, Frida
Kahlo, was a renown artist in her own right and today, after the release of such
the excellent feature film about her life Frida, her fame may even exceeded that
Diego.
Diego Rivera completed the seashell mosaics that adorn the outside
of the house of art patron Dolores Olmeda in 1956. The murals took the famous
artist over 18 months to complete and depict various Mesoamerican dieties (the
dragon above is Quetzacoatl).
Diego Rivera passed away in this house in
1957. Although there has been talk of converting it into a museum, no action has
been taken yet so one is left to view the murals from the street. Truth be told,
I wouldn't make a special journey to see the sight unless you really love Diego
Rivera. These two photos I snapped cover about 50% of what you'll see there.
The neighborhood is pleasant to walk around and has some
interesting old architecture and even a castle-like structure with stone lions
guarding the front and some spooky old abandoned hotels, but for a bigger
selection of art, The Dolores Olmeda gallery located in the Convention Center is
at the other end of town.