12 Exceptional U.S. Museums Celebrating Latin American Art

Latino culture thrives across the United States through diverse expressions in music, art, and cuisine. It can be seen in cities like Buffalo, New York, as well as major urban centers with significant Latino communities such as Chicago. Latin American art showcases a variety of forms nationwide, emphasizing the diversity within Latino identities. The following museums feature a wide range of media, including paintings and sculptures. Explore exhibitions highlighting the Cuban diaspora, performance art that addresses the challenges faced by Latino immigrants, and much more.

Museum of Puerto Rican Art and Culture

Nestled in the historic Humboldt Park area of Chicago, the Museum of Puerto Rican Art and Culture (MPRAC) is dedicated to Puerto Rican artistry, with ongoing exhibitions of contemporary art, music, and works by Puerto Rican creators. It stands as the only independent museum devoted to Puerto Rican arts and cultural displays year-round in the continental United States. In addition to its exhibits, MPRAC organizes community events featuring local artists, musicians, and youth art workshops, such as the Barrio Arts Fest, which occurs every summer and includes live music, local artists’ artwork for sale, and Puerto Rican cuisine vendors.

Americas Art Museum

The Art Museum of the Americas in Washington, D.C., inaugurated in 1976, holds the distinction of being the oldest U.S. museum dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art. Affiliated with the Organization of American States, the museum strives to foster democracy and unity through its powerful art collection. Transition from the striking blue tiled walls of the interior gallery’s courtyard to a serene sculpture garden, providing a peaceful retreat in the midst of city life. Explore its outstanding permanent collection, featuring over 2,000 pieces from both renowned and emerging Latin American artists, including Bolivian Maria Luisa Pacheco and Colombian Alejandro Obregon. Visit its Instagram page for the latest events and updates.

El Museo del Barrio

Founded in 1969 by Raphael Montañez Ortiz alongside a group of Puerto Rican artists, educators, and activists, El Museo del Barrio serves as a vital institution for showcasing and preserving Puerto Rican and broader Latin American art and culture in the U.S. Situated in New York City’s El Barrio (Spanish Harlem), the museum boasts an extensive collection of over 8,500 pieces, ranging from pre-Columbian Taíno artifacts to contemporary works. This year, it revitalized its permanent collection with the exhibition Something Beautiful: Reframing La Colección, highlighting its diverse holdings through 500 artworks, including new acquisitions and commissions. This year-long innovative presentation transcends traditional categorizations, offering a cross-disciplinary exploration of Indigenous, African, and European influences on visual arts across the Americas and the Caribbean, while also celebrating the museum’s rich heritage and significance. Free guided tours led by El Museo’s educators are available most weekends.

Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA)

Experience the richness of Latin American and Latino creativity at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) in Long Beach, California. Established in 1996, MOLAA is the only museum in the U.S. entirely devoted to contemporary Latin American art. Nestled in the historic East Village Arts District, the museum occupies a space that once served as a groundbreaking silent film studio. MOLAA features an extensive collection of over 1,300 artworks alongside a captivating 15,000-square-foot sculpture garden. Among its permanent collection are works by Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, a trailblazer in geometric abstraction. Current exhibitions include a multimedia showcase, Alexandre Arrechea: Intersected Horizons, marking the renowned Afro-Cuban artist’s first solo museum exhibition in California, featuring his multidisciplinary creations.

El Museo

Buffalo’s El Museo, founded in the 1970s by Craig Centrie and Juan Gonzalez, is the only nonprofit visual arts organization in western New York dedicated to supporting underserved artists. Emerging from the civil rights movement’s push for diversity, the Latino Artists Collective—a group of artists that originated at the University at Buffalo—began their mission to promote art through street performances and the groundbreaking Gallery Without Walls (pop-up exhibitions across Buffalo). In 1981, they established El Museo Francisco Oller y Diego Rivera to honor the legendary Puerto Rican and Mexican artists. Over the years, the museum broadened its focus to represent the BIPOC community. Located on Allen Street since 1997, El Museo continues to be a pillar of cultural diversity, encouraging inclusion and artistic dialogue within Buffalo’s vibrant arts landscape through exhibitions and artist discussions.

National Museum of the American Latino, Washington, D.C.

The Molina Family Latino Gallery serves as a precursor to the highly anticipated National Museum of the American Latino. Located within the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian museum network, this 4,500-square-foot gallery provides an engaging glimpse into Latino history and culture. Built with inclusivity in mind, the gallery is accessible to visitors with various physical, sensory, and cognitive needs, offering content in both English and Spanish. Its inaugural exhibition, ¡Presente!, highlights the significant contributions of U.S. Latinos in business, politics, and the arts, weaving an interactive narrative about immigration and the Latino experience in the United States. A virtual tour online is also available.

The Clemente Museum

Housed in a historic 19th-century firehouse in Pittsburgh, the Clemente Museum pays homage to the Puerto Rican baseball icon and humanitarian Roberto Clemente. In addition to presenting the most extensive collection of Clemente memorabilia, the venue surprises many with its urban wine cellar. This unique concept is the vision of executive director and winemaker Duane Rieder, who established the Clemente Society in 2009. Society members support the museum’s mission by donating 21 percent of their wine purchases. Please note that the museum only offers guided tours, with schedules available on its website.

The American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora

The American Museum of the Cuban Diaspora in Miami stands as a tribute to the rich history and cultural contributions of the Cuban diaspora to the arts and humanities. Delving into often overlooked stories, the museum resonates with the experiences of those who left their homeland in search of hope, using art as a means to express their struggles and dreams. Currently, the museum features an exhibition titled Arquitectura by Cuban Americans in Exile, showcasing significant works from architects like Robert Behar and Willy A. Bermello.

National Museum of Mexican Art

Founded in 1982 by Carlos Tortolero and a group of educators, the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum opened its doors in 1987 to champion accessibility, education, and social justice. What began as a modest venue has evolved into a modern 48,000-square-foot facility located in Pilsen, Chicago. In 2006, it was renamed the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA), celebrating Mexican culture with a collection of over 18,000 artworks spanning from ancient times to the present. As the first Latino museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the NMMA has showcased its exhibitions across the nation, with notable displays like The African Presence in Mexico featured in prominent institutions, including the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum and the Oakland Museum of California. The museum enriches the cultural scene further with programs ranging from dance performances to the annual Sor Juana Festival, honoring the achievements of Mexican women in the arts, featuring talents such as Vikki Carr, Lynda Carter, and Sandra Cisneros.

National Hispanic Cultural Center

The National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC), located in Albuquerque’s historic Barelas district, serves as a vibrant center for Hispanic arts and culture. Its vast 20-acre campus features classic Southwestern terra-cotta architecture and includes a visual arts museum, theaters, a library, and more, showcasing the richness of Hispanic, Chicano, and Latinx experiences. The La Fonda del Bosque restaurant, found in the History and Literary Arts Building, offers a unique culinary experience with Latin fusion dishes in a decor inspired by New Mexico, featuring items like mesquite steak tacos and chiles stuffed with wild mushrooms. For a delightful dessert, visit Pop Fizz Paleteria in the Pete V. Domenici Education Building, which serves Mexican-style paletas (Popsicles) with a twist, along with a variety of tasty hot food options.

Esperanza Arts Center

The Esperanza Arts Center (EAC) is a vibrant hub for Latino arts and culture in North Philadelphia, a neighborhood rich in Latino heritage. A striking mural outside the center features black-and-white images of children surrounded by colorful depictions of tropical landscapes. Here, you can engage with music, dance, theater, and cinema from Latin America, the Caribbean, and beyond through a diverse array of events such as LatinX Composers – Astral Artists, where composer Daniel de Jesus guides a group of aspiring musicians. Motivated by a biblical call to serve, EAC has supported the Hispanic community for over 30 years, particularly in the Hunting Park area, offering empowering programs that build self-confidence and resilience, including dance, music, and film classes for local youth. The center also hosts artist residencies and workshops for emerging artists from the community.

San Antonio Museum of Art

While the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) features global exhibitions, its collection of Latin American art is particularly noteworthy, boasting around 8,000 pieces, making up a significant part of its offerings. Step into the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art, which opened in 1998, and explore its eight spacious galleries. This journey spans 4,000 years, from the ancient artistry of Mesoamerican cultures to the transformative changes that followed the Spanish invasion 500 years ago. Among its permanent collection, you’ll find meticulously preserved Mayan earthenware dating back to the 8th century and intricate mahogany carvings by renowned Nicaraguan artist Robert de la Selva, showcasing Indigenous life in the early 1900s. One of SAMA’s current exhibitions, A Legacy in Clay: The Ceramics of Tonalá, Mexico, highlights the historical journey of ceramic artists from Tonalá.