Oaxaca stands as one of Mexico’s most vibrant and enduring centers of artistic and cultural practice. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the city holds a rare convergence of Indigenous traditions, historical architecture, and contemporary artistic practice. Its cultural framework is not preserved as a relic, but lived daily through art, craft, food, and community.
Valentina Atkinson’s connection to Oaxaca is deeply rooted in her role as Art Director of Oaxaca Serrano Contemporary Art Gallery in Houston, where she actively works with artists and cultural leaders from the region. This relationship informs the structure of the trips, positioning Oaxaca as a place of study shaped by authenticity and long-term collaboration rather than observation from a distance. In partnership with Patrick Palmer and the Glassell School of Art, the city becomes a vital context for understanding how place informs creative practice.
Oaxaca’s artistic legacy offers direct access to master practitioners and locally developed techniques, while its gastronomy reflects centuries of knowledge embedded in ritual and tradition. Known as one of the centers of Mexican cuisine, the region’s celebrated moles and culinary practices parallel its visual arts in complexity and cultural meaning. Together, these elements make Oaxaca an essential setting for learning, where art and culture are inseparable from the land and its people.
Learn about the 2026 Oaxaca Tour
Explore the Artists
Reflect on Past Trips
In 2023, Valentina Atkinson and Patrick Palmer co-curated Magical and Mystical Oaxaca, an exhibition celebrating the extraordinary work of Oaxacan masters. The show marked a milestone for the Glassell School of Art, an affiliation of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, as it filled all three floors of the school for the first time in its history.
The first floor honored the maestros themselves, featuring the works of Rolando Rojas, Didier Mayes, Ixrael Montes, and Saul Castro, highlighting the depth and diversity of contemporary Oaxacan practice. The second floor showcased the students who participated in the Oaxaca trips, presenting pieces inspired by their immersive experiences across a range of mediums. On the third floor, women printmakers were highlighted, recognizing printmaking as a vital and widely practiced art form throughout Oaxaca.
Magical and Mystical Oaxaca wove a narrative of mentorship, inspiration, and cultural continuity, reflecting both the richness of Oaxaca’s artistic heritage and the creative dialogue it continues to inspire.
View the Catalog
In conjunction with Magical and Mystical Oaxaca, the four masters Rolando Rojas, Didier Mayes, Ixrael Montes, and Saul Castro each created a special limited-edition print to commemorate the exhibition. Each print is produced in an edition of 50 and can be acquired individually or as a complete set, offering collectors the opportunity to own a unique piece that celebrates both the artists’ vision and the spirit of Oaxaca.