Hot Art: Visiting Orozco’s Fiery Murals in Guadalajara
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Losing an eye and a hand in a fireworks accident didn’t slow down Jose Clemente Orozco’s creative fire!
His murals in Guadalajara are pure magic and a must-see when you’re visiting Mexico. If you’re exploring this colorful colonial city, prepare to be wowed by his jaw-dropping masterpieces!
The fiery Orozco murals
Orozco learned to paint at a young age.
But tragically, he injured his left hand at the age of 21 while making fireworks for Mexico’s Independence Day, and his hand and wrist had to be amputated.
This didn’t stop Orozco from painting, however.
Famous Mexican muralists
Orozco ended up becoming one of the three greatest Mexican muralists – keeping good company with Diego Rivera (Kahlo Frido’s lover) and David Alfaro Siqueiros, the other two renowned muralists.
The Mexican mural movement arose in the 1920s (right after the Mexican Revolution from 1910 to 1917), when Mexico’s education minister commissioned artists to depict Mexico’s history on public buildings.
Most of the Mexican people were illiterate, and this was a way for them to visually understand their heritage.
Many of these murals depict Mexico’s struggle for independence and the suffering of the masses.
The Orozco murals in Guadalajara
The 57 frescoes Orozco painted inside the Hospicio Cabanas in Guadalajara in the late 1930s are considered his masterpiece works.
Built as an orphanage and hospital, the Hospicio Cabanas is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, cultural center and museum.
The building itself is quite the architectural sight, with 23 patios and courtyards linked by pink tile corridors.
Hospicio Cabanas
Calle Cabanas 8, Plaza Tapatia Zona Centro, Las Fresas, Guadalajara
+52 33 3668 1642
Orozco Man of Fire
Of all the Jose Clemente Orozco paintings in Guadalajara, “Man of Fire” is the most intriguing (and one of the most famous).
Gracing the Cabanas’ lofty ceiling, the “Man of Fire” mural shows a blazing man in flames rising upward – from torment toward enlightenment? Two other men encircle him.
What a trompe d’oeil it is!
When we walked around while also looking up, it appeared the vividly painted orange, black and grey figures also moved around in a circle.
Miguel Hidalgo mural and other Guadalajara murals
We also saw many more Orozco murals at the governor’s palace in Guadalajara, which is now a museum.
Most striking is the huge painting of a feisty white-haired Father Miguel Hidalgo wielding a burning torch, which greets you while climbing the staircase.
Hidalgo, the father of the country, was the priest who inspired the Mexican people to rise up against their Spanish conquerors.
The Government Palace (or Palacio de Gobierno)
Avenida Ramon Corona 31, Zona Centro, Guadalajara
+52 33 3668 1825
One of the best things to do in Guadalajara
There are lots of interesting things to do when you tour Guadalajara.
One of them is seeing Orozco’s great works of art. They’re among the top Guadalajara attractions; if you love art and culture, viewing Orozco’s murals is one of the most interesting things to do in Mexico. So don’t miss them!
Seeing these emotional and thought-provoking Guadalajara murals opened our eyes to a world of art we hadn’t seen before.
Where to stay in Guadalajara
We enjoyed the lovely Villa Ganz Boutique Hotel. Converted from a former hacienda, it’s conveniently located close to several restaurants and bars.
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Experience more of Mexico!
Cabo San Lucas: From whale watching to hiking up the Pedregal, check out these epic things to do in Los Cabos.
Zihuatanejo: Want a great beach vacay? See the best beaches in Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa.
Mexico City: Planning on spending 3 days in Mexico City? You’ll want to see this helpful itinerary covering the best museums, attractions and restaurants in the fabulous capital.
Puerto Vallarta: You’ll love these beautiful boutique hotels in Puerto Vallarta.
Our top travel tips and resources
Hotels: Booking.com is perfect for scoring a “wow” hotel – or at least a decent one – at lower rates than the hotel’s own website. We especially like Booking’s flexible cancellation policy!
Vacation homes, condos and rentals: We prefer and use Vrbo (Vacation Rentals by Owner).
Cruises: CruiseDirect offers amazing deals on cruises (including Holland America, Viking Ocean Cruises, Seabourn and other lines we’ve reviewed).
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Airport lounge access: We love (and have) Priority Pass for comfy lounge seats, free snacks and drinks, complimentary WiFi and sometimes even showers and spa services!
Tours: For the best local food, walking and other guided tours, plus skip-the-line tickets to attractions, check out Viator (a TripAdvisor company) and GetYourGuide.
Car rental: Renting a car is often a great way to explore off the beaten path. Discover Cars searches car rental companies so you get the lowest rates.
eSIMS: Stay connected affordably with Airalo eSIMS covering 200+ countries and trusted by 10 million+ users, including us! (No more huge roaming bills!)
Travel insurance: SafetyWing is designed for frequent travelers, long-term adventurers and digital nomads. It covers medical expenses, lost checked luggage, trip interruption and more. We also have and recommend Medjet for global air medical transportation.
Travel gear: See our travel shop to find the best luggage, accessories and other travel gear. (We suggest these comfy travel sandals for city walking, the beach and kicking about.)
Need more help planning your trip? Check out our travel tips and resources guide for airline booking tips, ways to save money, how to find great hotels and other crazy useful trip planning info.
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Photo credits: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 © Janice and George Mucalov, SandInMySuitcase
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