Located in the heart of Irapuato, Guanajuato, the Calosa Foundation exists as an essential reference for contemporary art in the Bajío. Founded seven years ago with the mission of democratizing access to art, this non -profit organization has succeeded in consolidating itself as a space for Reunion, Dialogue and Artistic Education. Its impact goes beyond the exhibition of first-rate works: Fundación Calosa seeks to transform the perception of art and encourage collection in a region where cultural offer of this type is limited.
Decentralize art
Historically, Mexico’s cultural offers have been concentrated in Mexico City, leaving other regions with less access to contemporary art exhibitions in world class. This has an impact on artists and consumers, because artists must go to Mexico City to show their artistic work or to attend major exhibitions. Fundación Calosa took up the challenge of decentralizing the Mexican artistic scene by offering a space where national and international artists can exhibit their work without having to go to the capital.
Espacio Calosa, the gallery in which the foundation is based, has become a model for the way in which private initiatives can contribute to the dissemination of art and culture in the country. “Our objective is to bring art closer to more people, offering first -rate exhibitions and an educational program free of charge,” explains Lorena Chávez, founder of the institution and a business woman engaged in the transformative force that access to art can have on the life and mind of people.
A space for the community
The Fundación Calosa is not only an exhibition center but also a place to meet and learn. Its educational program includes workshops, wine tastings and activities for children and emerging artists. Events such as Calosa Niños seek to initiate new generations in the assessment of art, while Noches Calosa allows adult visitors to explore exhibitions during prolonged times, to prioritize socialization and dialogue around art and taking into account the long changes of work that people generally have in this part of the country.
World class exhibitions: Chiharu Shiota in Calosa
One of the most recent achievements of the Foundation is the recently inaugurated exhibition “The Soul Journey” by the renowned Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota. Famous for its monumental installations created with intertwined wire canvases, Shiota offers a unique sensory experience that explores memory, body and human emotions. This exhibition is free, reflecting Calosa’s commitment to accessibility and artistic quality.
“To experience art is to embark the soul in a journey, to explore the depths of human consciousness. While visitors visit the exhibition of Fundación Calosa, they will engage with various works of art that deal with life, death and connection. The goal of art is to look beyond our banal life ”, said Chiharu Shirota about his exhibition at Espacio Calosa.
This exhibition will be open to the public at no cost before June and you can visit Monday to Friday.
The future of collection and emerging art
One of the pillars of the Foundation is to encourage art collection as a tool for social transformation. “Supporting living artists is fundamental. The purchase of art is not only an aesthetic act, but also a political act; it is a form of support for hard work and research involved in creation,” said Lorena Chávez in Newsweek in Español earlier this year. The Foundation has promoted the acquisition of works by emerging artists, demonstrating that it is possible to start a collection with an accessible budget.
From its seat in Irapuato, the Calosa Foundation redefines the artistic scene in the Bajío and beyond, operating as an example of similar spaces outside Mexico City. His work not only defies the cultural centralization of Mexico, but also inspires other initiatives to follow. In a country where art is often perceived as a luxury for some, projects like Calosa demonstrate that culture can and must be accessible to all.
Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer and cultural promoter and is the former editor -in -chief of the magazine Newsweek in Español.
