Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños, MUPO.

One of the most emblematic and historically significant buildings in the historic center of Oaxaca City is the one that houses the Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños, commonly known as MUPO. This colonial-style building from the 17th century is located at the corner of Independencia Avenue and García Vigil Street. It is easily recognizable thanks to its construction in green cantera stone, characteristic of the viceregal style, with large windows and a wooden door that leads to a portico with stone benches, announcing the main courtyard framed by quadrangular columns and galleries throughout the property.

With over 400 years of history, the building was originally constructed through the initiative of lawyer and priest Juan Gómez de Tapia, parish priest of Tututepec, and Portuguese philanthropist Manuel Fernández Fiallo. Their goal was to create a space for the education of Oaxacan girls regardless of social status. Thus, on January 26, 1686, the educational institution was inaugurated under the name Colegio de Doncellas de Nuestra Señora de la Presentación, also known as the “Colegio de las Niñas.”

The college was later closed and expropriated, ceasing operations in 1860. It reopened in 1866 during the administration of Porfirio Díaz. Over time, the building was repurposed as the Museum of Anthropology and History and later as the Regional Museum of the State until 1986. During this period, it showcased documents, artifacts, and treasures from the Monte Albán archaeological site, including the first exhibition of the famous “Tomb 7” jewels discovered by archaeologist Alfonso Caso.

From 1987 to 1992, the building served as the offices of the Oaxaca de Juárez City Council, and from 1993 to 2003, it housed the State Tourism Secretariat. In 2003, restoration and adaptation efforts began, and in 2004, the State Government officially founded the Museo de los Pintores Oaxaqueños. Since then, it has become a space dedicated to preserving and promoting Oaxacan visual arts through exhibitions of painting, sculpture, photography, and video.

Today, MUPO features a second floor and four temporary exhibition rooms: the Rufino Tamayo Room, Rodolfo Morales Room, Rodolfo Nieto Room, and Francisco Gutiérrez Room. Visitors can admire works by renowned painters through self-guided or guided tours, attend lectures and book presentations, and participate in educational services, workshops, and exhibitions designed for audiences of all ages.