Graphic Art Galleries in Oaxaca

Instituto de Artes Gráficas de Oaxaca (Oaxaca’s Institute of Graphic Art) is a beautiful art gallery and cultural center founded in 1988 by Zapotec painter Francisco Toledo. It houses one of the most important graphic arts collections in Latin America. The institute has an extensive public art library with over 50,000 books and a community workspace. It also offers courses and hosts exhibitions.

Galería Taller La Máquina is a more upscale gallery and workshop with an incredible, large 1909 lithography press from France that artisans use to make acrylic and woodcut prints. La Máquina sells graphic art from emerging and established artists and hosts exhibitions in its lovely space.

Espacio Zapata is run by the graphic art collective Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca (ASARO). The group formed in response to a 2006 teachers’ strike in Oaxaca that the government responded to violently. Espacio Zapata has a gallery full of provocative revolutionary art for sale and is also a space for discussion, workshops, expositions, and events for artists and the community.

Subterráneos is a collective of graphic artists and serves as a graphic art school, workshop, and gallery for young artists. You’ll see many of the collective’s captivating prints around town, which seek to bring attention to and address social issues in the community through graphic art.

Taller Artístico Comunitario (TAC) is a gallery, workshop, and cultural center highlighting and supporting young indigenous artists. Most of TAC’s members moved to Oaxaca City from indigenous communities to become artists. At TAC, they pay for paper but are otherwise provided free materials, space, and training to develop their craft. With its proceeds, TAC provides free, week-long printmaking workshops to youth in indigenous communities. TAC also regularly offers art classes.