A LIVING LABORATORY
FOR CREATION.

ARTERY is an independent contemporary art platform based in Tulum, Mexico, founded in 2024. We work with Mexican and international artists through exhibitions, residencies, public art, workshops and collaborative projects. More than a space for presenting finished work, ARTERY supports artists throughout the development of their projects, providing space, production, documentation, visibility and opportunities for exchange. Rooted in Tulum, ARTERY creates connections between artists, audiences, local communities and an international creative network.

ARTERY is committed to supporting artistic practice, creating cultural exchange and contributing to the evolving cultural landscape of Tulum. We create opportunities for artists, audiences and ideas from different backgrounds to meet through exhibitions, residencies, public art, workshops and collaborations. We support artists whose work and commitment we believe in, providing the space, resources and visibility needed to develop and present their practice. Our purpose extends beyond the exhibition space. We see art as a way to encourage dialogue, bring new perspectives into the place we live and create meaningful connections between people and their surroundings. Based in Tulum, ARTERY connects local, Mexican and international practices while remaining closely engaged with its territory and community.

Artist residencies are a central part of ARTERY's program. ARTERY hosts artists from Mexico and different parts of the world, providing accommodation, space and local support at no cost to participating artists. The residency gives artists time to research, experiment and develop new work while experiencing Tulum beyond its role as an international destination. Artists are introduced to the territory through its people, living Maya culture, Mexican identity, natural environment and contemporary context. There is no expectation that artists produce work specifically about Tulum. The purpose is to give artists access to the place and allow that experience to enter their practice naturally. Residencies may include workshops, conversations, open studios and other forms of exchange with the community, and may culminate in an exhibition or public presentation.

ARTERY works with artists beyond the exhibition itself. Depending on each project, support can include materials, production, exhibition development, installation, documentation, short films, catalogs, public programming, sales and connections to opportunities beyond Tulum. Our approach is collaborative. The artist maintains the direction and integrity of their practice, while ARTERY provides the structure and resources necessary to develop the project. We are interested in building long-term relationships with artists and creating opportunities for work developed through ARTERY to circulate beyond Tulum.

ARTERY develops exhibitions with Mexican and international artists whose practices contribute to the platform's artistic program. Each project is developed directly with the artist, from initial conversations through production, installation, documentation and public presentation. The exhibition program creates a space for audiences to encounter different artistic practices while connecting artists with collectors, new audiences and opportunities. All ARTERY exhibitions are free and open to the public.

Education and exchange have been part of ARTERY since its beginning. Artists and collaborators are invited to share their knowledge through workshops, conversations and participatory formats. These programs create direct encounters between artistic practice and the people who live in or pass through Tulum, allowing knowledge, processes and ideas to circulate beyond the exhibition space.

Aquí va la deARTERY develops artistic projects beyond its physical space, using public art as a way to create encounters between artists, the city and its community. Through public interventions, contemporary art becomes part of the everyday landscape of Tulum and accessible beyond traditional exhibition spaces.scripción.

Tulum is an international meeting point where people, ideas and creative practices from different parts of Mexico and the world intersect. It is also a territory with its own history, living Maya culture, Mexican identity and local communities. ARTERY operates within this intersection. We believe artists coming to Tulum should have the opportunity to engage with the place beyond its image as a destination, while the community should have access to the artists, ideas and conversations moving through it. ARTERY does not seek to define Tulum's cultural identity. We want to participate in its evolution through art.

Benny Vergara is the founder and director of ARTERY, an independent contemporary art platform established in Tulum in 2024. He leads ARTERY's artist selection and works directly with participating artists in the development of exhibitions, residencies, public art and cultural projects. ARTERY grew from Vergara's curiosity about the different ways people interpret and express the world through art, and from his belief that these perspectives deserve space, visibility and opportunities to develop. His approach is collaborative, working with artists to provide the structure, resources and connections necessary to develop their projects while maintaining the integrity of their practice.