Troubled Pinacoteca Juan Gamboa Guzman Reopens After 5 Years

After sitting shuttered for five years, the Pinacoteca Juan Gamboa Guzman in downtown Mérida has partially reopened its doors. The 17th-century museum, which sits between the Church of the Third Order and the Palacio de la Música in the heart of the historic center, was never exactly high-profile. Still, new leadership programming is giving the landmark venue a new shot at relevancy.

Victor Arturo Martinez Rojas, director of the INAH-Yucatán Center, allocated a budget in 2024 to address urgent maintenance issues, primarily work to stop water leaks. This allowed INAH to make certain spaces available for cultural programming while a more comprehensive restoration is planned for 2026.

The Pinacoteca houses colonial-era paintings, 19th-century portraits, and works by the gallery’s namesake, Juan Gamboa Guzman, who created what many consider the finest Yucatecan painting of the 1800s. The collection also includes satirical engravings by Gabriel Vicente Gahona, known as Picheta, and bronze sculptures by Austrian artist Enrique Gottdiener depicting Maya life in the mid-20th century.

The building itself occupies two colonial structures that once belonged to the Jesuits: the Colegio San Francisco Javier, which later became a university, and the church of El Jesús. The main gallery space served as the Manuel Cepeda Peraza Public Library from 1894 to 1979 before the pinacoteca opened in July 1981.

The reopening comes during a period of institutional turbulence at INAH-Yucatán. Martinez Rojas took over the center’s leadership in August 2025, replacing archaeologist Anna Goycoolea Artis, who moved to a national coordination role. Since his appointment, Martinez Rojas has faced public questioning and labor complaints reported in local media.

According to employee reports, activities at various sites and archaeological areas remain suspended or are experiencing operational problems. There have also been reports of pending works and irregularities in conservation projects across the state.

The Mayapán archaeological site in Tecoh has been closed for two years due to an unresolved conflict between INAH and communal landowners. The Balamcanché and Loltún sites also remain closed despite being in condition to reopen. The Dzibilchaltún Museum has been described as abandoned.

Several months ago, workers at the center released a statement expressing concerns about Martinez Rojas’s management. They cited a lack of communication and results, noting that he visits his office only briefly once a week and avoids addressing urgent matters related to the conservation of Yucatán’s historical and archaeological heritage.

Whether the Pinacoteca will fully reopen or maintain limited operations until the 2026 restoration remains unclear.

Pinacoteca Juan Gamboa Guzman

• Calle 59 between 58 and 60, Centro, Mérida
• Opened in 1981 in a 17th-century former Jesuit building
• Collection spans colonial period through 20th century
• Closed since 2020
• Partial reopening in November 2025
• Full restoration planned for 2026