Galeria San Miguel

Galeria San Miguel on the jardin in San Miguel de Allende is the oldest gallery in town. For twenty five years, the Galeria was the only gallery in town except for the faculty gallery at the Instituto Allende. Over two thousand artist have been represented. Among the most famous were Aurelio Pescina and Romeo Tabuena. Sylvia Samuelson moved to San Miguel with her artist husband at the time, Fred, in 1952. He had studied at the Chicago Art Institute. In November of 1962, the gallery opened its door under the portales on the jardin and was in that location for 13 years. Later the gallery moved the corner of Hernandez Macias and Umaran. Five years later, the gallery moved to its current location right on the jardin, Plaza Principal No. 14.

Mary Mendoza has been Sylvia's right hand gal for twenty-five years this last June! She started with Sylvia when she was 18 years old. When my group is in town, the gallery is one of my first stops on my guided walking tour.

These delightful scenes of everyday life in San Miguel are painted by a local artist, Carlos Vital. I love how the artist captures the blooming jacaranda tree in the bottom right piece.
These series of paintings are by David Leonardo. A well known Mexican artist, especially famous for his murals. Leonardo is the artist that painted the large mural at the Instituto Allende (I wrote about that in my post dated May 12, 2010)

These colorful paintings of life in San Miguel are by Roz Farbrush, a part time resident.
"Zapata" is painted by an Argentine artist, Gabriel Vitta.

Sylvia told me a funny story that happened many years ago. She was hosting a reception and the gallery was packed. At one point, one of the waiters discovered there was a painting missing. The culprit was found at one of the local bars, the Cucaracha, having drinks with the painting sitting next to him. He was arrested and would have spent seven years in jail if Sylvia had not dropped the charges. The next day he came in to apologize and asked her if he could borrow some money. Being the good soul she is, she lent a few hundred pesos to him, never to see it again!

A few years ago, there was a parade of horses and their riders in the jardin. Before Sylvia and Mary knew it, one horseman rode his horse right into the gallery and gallery patrons ran for cover.

Only in San Miguel!

Galeria San Miguel

Plaza Principal No. 14

San Miguel de Allende

ssgalsanmig@hotmail.com