The Billionaire’s Museum in Mexico City

Cindy Roaming
4 min readJun 8, 2023
Museo Soumaya Mexico City
Photograph by: Catatan Kaki Cindy

Soumaya Museum is as impressive outside as inside.

The idea of building a museum with free entry to provide access to art for people who may not have the means to travel the world or visit expensive exhibitions is indeed a noble and inspiring concept. Carlos Slim, a Mexican billionaire and art enthusiast, has set a remarkable example with his ownership of the Museo Soumaya in Mexico City.

This extraordinary museum is a treasure trove of artistic wonders, showcasing an extensive collection that spans from 20th-century Mexican art to the masterpieces of Impressionism.

In short, the museum is named after his late wife, Soumaya Domit. She, like Carlos, was a lover of art and culture, and they traveled the world together just for that purpose. After his wife died, he finally decided to establish such a space dedicated to world art, with the aim of bringing artwork closer to Mexicans so they don’t need to travel or pay to see the exhibitions.

Museo Soumaya in Mexico City serves as a testament to this vision. Not only does it house an impressive collection of artworks, but it also offers free admission to the public. Also the museum’s exterior, with its awe-inspiring design. It’s an intricately arranged facade of 16,000 aluminum hexagons.

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Cindy Roaming

I write about my travel story, foods, and culture. Currently in Mexico City🇲🇽