Background and Relevance of the Gelman Collection
The Gelman Collection, a significant assembly of 160 Mexican artworks from the 20th century, will now be managed by Banco Santander following an agreement with the Zambrano family. This collection boasts masterpieces from renowned artists such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, María Izquierdo, Rufino Tamayo, and José Clemente Orozco, among others.
Key Artists in the Gelman Collection
- Frida Kahlo: The collection includes 18 works by the iconic Mexican artist, spanning her entire artistic career. These pieces comprise 10 paintings, 7 drawings, and a single engraving, including famous self-portraits like ‘Diego in my Thoughts’, ‘Self-Portrait with Necklace’, and ‘Self-Portrait with Monkeys’.
- Diego Rivera: Alongside Kahlo, Rivera’s works are also part of the collection.
- María Izquierdo, Rufino Tamayo, José Clemente Orozco: The collection features artworks from these prominent Mexican painters as well.
- Additional Artists: The collection also includes works by artists like Carlos Mónica Gerzso, Roberto Montenegro, and Leopoldo Méndez.
Photography in the Gelman Collection
The collection also encompasses a selection of Mexican photography by notable figures such as Guillermo Kahlo, Graciela Iturbide, Gabriel Figueroa, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, and Lola Álvarez Bravo.
Management and Exhibition of the Gelman Collection
Under this agreement, facilitated by Mexico’s Secretaría de Cultura and the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes y Literatura (INBAL), the Fundación Banco Santander will oversee conservation, research, and exhibition of the Gelman Collection.
Upcoming Exhibitions
A preliminary selection of artworks will be unveiled at Faro Santander, coinciding with the opening of this cultural space in Santander this June. The collection will also be displayed in international museums, though specific details have not been disclosed.
Statements from Ana Botín
“This agreement is a testament to the trust and friendship between Mexico and Spain, two nations with deep economic, social, and cultural ties. The Gelman Collection is one of the most important from the 20th century and a remarkable showcase of Mexico’s artistic wealth,” stated Ana Botín, President of Santander, according to a press release.
Fundación Vergel and Banco Santander Collections
The Fundación Vergel, now responsible for the Gelman Collection, also manages the conservation, research, and dissemination of the Banco Santander Collection. This patrimonial art fund comprises over a thousand pieces of painting, sculpture, drawing, and decorative arts spanning from the 3rd century BC to the present.
The Gelman Collection’s Origins
Jacques and Natasha Gelman established the collection in the 1940s, focusing on modern and contemporary Mexican painting. Jacques Gelman, a European-trained filmmaker, moved to Mexico in 1938 and, after marrying Natasha Zahalka in 1941, championed Mexico’s cinema industry by producing films and launching Cantinflas’ career, which funded his passion for art collecting.
Gelman’s Multiple Collections
- Modern European Art: The Gelmans assembled a collection of 81 modern European artworks by artists like Renoir, Matisse, Kandinsky, Modigliani, Picasso, Braque, Dalí, Balthus, and Miró, donated to the Metropolitan Museum of New York in 1998.
- Pre-Columbian Sculpture: Another collection focused on pre-Columbian sculptures.
- Modern Mexican Art: A collection of over 90 modern Mexican artworks initiated with the commission for Natasha Gelman’s portrait by Diego Rivera in 1943.
Natasha Gelman and Robert R. Littman
After Jacques Gelman’s death in 1986, Natasha Gelman continued expanding the collection with advice from American curator Robert R. Littman, whom she appointed executor of the will.
The Zambrano Family and Fundación Vergel
In 2023, the Zambrano family reached an agreement with Fundación Vergel to acquire the Gelman Collection. Over the past few decades, complete or selected versions of the collection have been featured in international exhibitions organized by institutions like Tate Modern, Victoria & Albert Museum, Reina Sofía Museum National Center of Art, National Gallery of Australia, Nagoya Museum of Art, Musée National des Beaux-arts du Québec, Art Gallery of Ontario, Dallas Museum of Art, and Brooklyn Museum of Art.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is managing the Gelman Collection now? The Fundación Vergel, under the supervision of Banco Santander.
- What types of art are included in the Gelman Collection? The collection comprises 160 Mexican artworks from the 20th century, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and photographs by renowned artists like Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, and others.
- What are the plans for exhibiting the Gelman Collection? A selection of artworks will be presented at Faro Santander, and the collection will also be displayed in international museums.
- Who were Jacques and Natasha Gelman? Jacques Gelman was a European-trained filmmaker who moved to Mexico in 1938 and championed the country’s cinema industry. Natasha Gelman continued expanding the collection after Jacques’ death in 1986 with advice from curator Robert R. Littman.
