Every Sunday, the street market La Lagunilla—located near Mexico City’s downtown and famous for its antiques and micheladas—becomes home to one of the city’s most interesting galleries, Galería Tianguis Neza. Amid the crowds moving to cumbia, the artist Luis Valverde welcomes curious friends and collectors to discover works sold at precios de tianguis (street-market prices) directly from the artists.
Valverde launched the project in 2021 to help generate income at a critical moment during the pandemic. “We [artists] were having a hard time,” he tells The Art Newspaper. “Art is often seen as having only symbolic value, but economic value is important in any profession. Many times, artists resist participating in the market.”
He launched the gallery, in collaboration with the artist David Azael, to create a commercial setting that would feel comfortable for both artists and casual buyers. Valverde offers space to friends and to artists who ask for an opportunity to show.
Since it launched, Galería Tianguis Neza has gained momentum. On any given Sunday, visitors might encounter artists like Tania Candiani or Teresa Margolles, as well as curators. The gallery brings together diverse audiences, with foreigners making up an increasingly important share of its clientele.
Viviana Martínez, a Mexican artist whose work addresses feminist issues, says Galería Tianguis Neza is important for communities shaped by scarcity. “This project is dissident because it uses public space and feels more real, especially for local artists selling their work,” Martínez says.
Four years on, Galería Tianguis Neza’s impact is plainly evident from its surroundings: Jaime Nunó Street has become an art corridor, with other stands selling works by local creators and independent fashion brands.