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The Guayasamín Museum (Museo Guayasamín) is one of the most interesting and thought-provoking places we visited in Quito. It’s located up in a secluded neighborhood far outside of the city center.
The museum was the home and masterpiece of indigenous artist and world-renowned master painter and sculptor Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919-1999). Near the end of his life, the artist set up the Guayasamín Foundation (Fundación Guayasamín), and donated his home along with his entire collection of colonial, pre-Columbian, and modern art, and many of his own works to his home country of Ecuador. The result was the Guayasamín Museum and the Chapel of Man (Capilla del Hombre).
Visiting
Admission to the museum is US$10 (as of February 2024) and it’s open Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 4:45pm. Tours are available in English and Spanish. A taxi is the easiest way to get there.
House and Studio
First, we visited his house and studio. On an hour-long guided tour, we were shown countless pieces of art from Guayasamín’s private collection. They were all meticulously placed throughout the house, including around his bedroom, bathroom, and closet. Near the end of the tour, we visited his studio and a gallery of his own works, mostly dedicated to the struggle of the indigenous and poor workers of South America. A good amount of the works were haunting and immediately produced a multitude of feelings.
Tree of Life
The tour exited through a gift shop to a patio with an outdoor pool and a tree called the Tree of Life (Árbol de la Vida). Guayasamín and his best friend are buried underneath the tree.
Chapel of Man
Next, we visited the indescribable Chapel of Man (Capilla del Hombre), which is one of the most important works of art in South America. It’s Guayasamín’s masterpiece and contains some incredible paintings, mosaics, and sculptures. Unfortunately, it wasn’t completed until 2002, three years after his death.
The Chapel of Man is dedicated to the struggle and suffering of humans, caused by humans themselves, and the infinite hope that one day the suffering and inhumanity will end. It’s a very emotional place and we were captivated by every detail. We could truly feel the pain and hope emanating from the artwork. Photography is not allowed inside.
