Translated to “House of the Deer,” Casa de los Venados is a museum unlike any other. Come here to explore room after room filled with colorful Mexican folk art, where walls are taken up with a jumble of bright pictures, sculptures stand on every available surface and even the furnishings are beautiful works of art. The most wonderful thing about this museum is that it is a home that is really lived in, so you won’t find many glass cases or museum-like displays here. Instead, everything is laid out so that life can go on among the artworks.
Casa de los Venados is owned by Dorianne and John Venator, the American couple who live in this grand colonial house. Wander its rooms and imagine the many decades of work that went into putting together this remarkable display of art, one of the largest privately owned collections of Mexican folk art anywhere in the world. Marvel at the beauty of the house, which was under renovation for around a decade. Over 3,000 pieces of art are housed here.
See how many times you can spot some of the most famous recurring motifs of Mexican folk art, including skeletons and flowers. Look for work by some of the country’s most iconic artists, including one of the world’s most famous artistic couples, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
Take in the elaborate splendor of rooms such as the main dining room, where even the dining chairs are painted with vibrant figures. Take a restroom break and notice how even the bathrooms here are beautifully designed and laden with art.
Visit the outdoor spaces of the house and see how these, too, are wonders of design. The enticing swimming pool is bridged with a disorienting semi-transparent walkway and surrounded by sunny orange walls. It is no surprise that this house has earned its architect several awards.
Pay a small donation to visit the Casa de los Venados, which is accessible by guided tour only. As the museum is non-profit, the fee goes to charity.
