Rosas y Revelaciones: Homage to la Virgen de Guadalupe

OPENING RECEPTION

Friday, April 17 — 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE EXHIBIT

About the Exhibit

Mexic-Arte Museum is proud to announce the opening of Rosas y Revelaciones: Homage to la Virgen de Guadalupe, an exhibition honoring one of Mexico’s most enduring cultural and spiritual icons through ninety extraordinary textile works. Curated by Luisa Fernanda Perez, this exhibition will be on display from April 17th to August 9th.

Coordinated by Linda Hanna, Rosas y Revelaciones brings together extraordinary garments and wearable works of art inspired by the image of la Virgen de Guadalupe, created by textile artists from across Mexico. The collection reflects both deep devotion and bold artistic innovation, offering visitors an intimate look at the ways traditional techniques can express profound faith, imagination, and identity.

Originally rooted in Hanna’s long residence in Oaxaca and her close relationships with artisans there, the exhibition represents a remarkable range of textile traditions. The exhibition focuses primarily on clothing, reflecting the historical tradition of la Virgen de Guadalupe’s first appearance on a tilma (cloak).

The exhibit is a true cross-section of Mexico’s rich textile heritage, featuring works from artists representing sixteen states, including Oaxaca, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guerrero, Michoacán, Puebla, Veracruz, and Yucatán. Featured artists from Mexico include master textile creators such as artisans from Teotitlán del Valle (Oaxaca), San Andrés Larráinzar (Chiapas), Tenango de Doria (Hidalgo), and Santa Clara del Cobre (Michoacán), among others, whose garments reinterpret la Virgen through embroidery, weaving, appliqué, beadwork, and mixed media techniques.

The exhibition also features photographs by Jesse Herrera, documenting Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, an essential spiritual and cultural site for the Mexican and Mexican American communities of Austin. Herrera is featured in Rosas y Revelaciones for his powerful photographic documentation of the church, which is the first Catholic church established specifically to serve Mexican and Mexican Americans in Austin. Founded in 1907, the church became a cornerstone of spiritual life, cultural preservation, and community organizing for generations of Mexican and Mexican American families.

His photographs, drawn from the Mexic-Arte Museum permanent collection, document both devotional practices and the architectural and communal life of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Importantly, the original church was located within Austin’s historic 5th Street Mexican American Cultural District, an area central to the cultural, artistic, and civic history of Mexican and Mexican American communities in the city. Through his lens, Herrera captures not only the physical presence of the church but also the presence of la Virgencita in this community space of Austin, Texas, affirming her enduring spiritual and cultural significance.

Since 1531, la Virgen de Guadalupe has shaped the cultural and artistic identity of México. Rosas y Revelaciones: Homage to la Virgen de Guadalupe affirms her enduring power, not only as a religious icon, but as a universal symbol of hope, identity, and resilience. Her image is deeply woven into the cultural fabric of Latin America and beyond.

SPECIAL TOURS

To celebrate this exhibit, Mexic-Arte will host two special tours free to the public. The first tour will be led by featured artist and photographer Jesse Herrera, on Sunday, April 19th at 12 pm. The second tour will be led by textile artist and project founder, Linda Hanna, on Sunday, April 26th at 12 pm. 

Museum Admission is always free on Sundays, thanks to HEB and the Downtown Austin Alliance.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Jesse Herrera – Born in Monterrey, Mexico, Jesse Herrera earned his B.A. in 1975 in art design from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a M.A. Degree in photojournalism from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. Herrera began his photography career in Chicago working as a corporate photographer for the People’s Gas Company. Relocating to Austin in 1978, he worked for several state agencies, including the Texas Department of Agriculture, the State Preservation Board, and the Texas House of Representatives.

DETAILS

Exhibition: Rosas y Revelaciones: Homage to la Virgen de Guadalupe

Dates: April 17 – August 9, 2026

Location: Mexic-Arte Museum, 419 Congress Avenue, Austin, TX

Hours: Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sunday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.