Mexico's Moment

Mexico is having a moment as people start exploring the country beyond the beach. Last month the New York Times featured Oaxaca in its "36 Hours" section. In another travel article, novelist Francine Prose described Oaxaca as an  "immersion course in Mexican delights." Mexico City topped the Times "52 Places to Go" list in 2016, declaring it a destination for "travelers seeking some of the world’s best cuisine, museums and forward-thinking design" and Elle Decor backed this up with their list of reasons to visit Mexico City following the City's designation as World Design Capital 2018.

Major international museums are also turning the spotlight on Mexico with exhibitions focused on Mexican art, crafts and design. LACMA's Found in Translation: Design in California and Mexico, 1915–1985, which just closed on April 1, explored "design dialogues between California and Mexico" and is accompanied by an excellent catalog. Frida Kahlo: Making Herself Up opens in London this June at the V&A. The exhibition will feature the artist's clothing and personal belongings, seen for the first time outside Mexico. In New York, the Guggenheim Museum (where I used to work!) is presenting Joseph Albers in Mexico, exploring how the artist's visits to Mexico influenced his work.