In 1940 the brothers Jose and Angel Marquez Figueroa Masters of the former Academy of Fine Arts, now the Institute of Visual Arts, arrive at the Parian with a group of students to impart their everyday kind of painting outdoors, started its activity framed by old dilapidated houses and courtyards typical of the Colonial Era.

Having spent a few hours, the teacher Jose Marquez stopped the class and tells his students, "young, you are about to leave the academy, and are painters do not you like to have a place, as a studio-workshop to assemble, develop and eventually become a core of artists who represent our city? ". All Master replied of course I do but where is that place? The Master replied: "here, in front of you, imagine all these ancillary occupied by artists, dignify and rescue them from leaving this place making it a" Barrio del Artista ".

ExpoInfantil in "Plazuela del Torno"

"Your task is to strive for the authorities who deliver these spaces to achieve a bohemian as in other large cities."

It was a few months and thanks to the insistent efforts of this group achieved an interview with the then State Governor Dr. Gonzalo Bautista Castillo who welcomed the idea put forward and in coordination with the Municipal President Juan Manuel Trevino, give this space is based Union of Plastic Arts of Puebla was the first President of the same Master Faustino García Salazar and organized the first collective exhibition of the Group on May 5, 1941.

In 1955 the State Government chaired by General Rafael Avila Camacho gave custody of the Association in the square of the factor, given the importance that is acquiring the site for the National and International Tourism, subsequently carried out building the second floor and to mark the centenary of the Battle of May 5 is inaugurated in 1962, José Luis Rodríguez Alconedo room presenting a major exhibition Great Masters paintings to the National Plastic Arts (Diego Rivera, Frida Kalo, David A. Siqueiros, Saturnino Herran, José Clemente Orozco, Rufino Tamayo, Fernando Murillo and some others who graced the show making history in the annals of Plastic Arts in London).


Exhibition opening corresponding to the then Governor of the State Fausto M. Ortega and guest of honor Mr. Secretary of Public Education of the Nation Dr. Jaime Torres Bodet well as being able to crystallize this dream of having a permanent space for developing the objectives of the Association rescuing the old market buildings known popular as the "Marketplace" which was a center of trade poblano in colonial times when there stood the viceregal watertight different goods.

This place was called the "El Parián" so named because it was forced to place the carriers from Veracruz, Oaxaca, La Costa Chica of Guerrero and Colony Capital, the market ran from 1760 until late last century , where, because of the emergence of the railroad was abandoned as a focal point for cargo and becomes the "SQUARE Marketplace and trade comes less than candy, popping the pulcatas, entrances and fritanguerías typical to capture as faithfully as a vision of that past, the canon of Augustine Brush Arrieta.

It is undeniable that the interest shown by the then Local Government will determine the future of the group, supporting its founders: -José y Ángel Márquez Figueroa, -Carlos Teodoro Torres, -Faustino Salazar, -Desiderio Hernández Xochitiotzin, -Roberto Castro, -Raúl Fernández Mendoza, -Julieta Sarmientos, -Consuelo Munguía, -Estela Mariscal, -Anita Reyes Alegre, -Eduardo Villanueva, -Carlos Ochoa, -Liberto Puyol, -Nazario Corte, -Juan Castellanos, -Juan Centeno, -Elías Alvarado, -Manuel Morales -Alfonso Pavello.

The time and commitment of the authorities and the constancy of the Association is changing the face of the once-neglected area.

Restore its image, guarded by the colonial architectural monument which is the House of Weed and baroque jewel that is the temple of San Francisco, the historic fabric of purple with its slender brick chimneys and small fish pond and the historic Theatre Home with portalillo (first theater of America). The "Barrio del Artista" has been revered and inspiration of musicians and poets who are covered by the bohemian atmosphere of the place expressed his poetry and music from different eras of the Association.

The laureates Joseph Recek S., Fray Jerónimo Verduzco, Don Gregorio Degante, Salvador Fidel Ibarra, S. Delfino Moreno, Ernesto M. Machuca, which were heard and wrote some of his poems in this neighborhood. The nostalgia of those unforgettable nights in the company of bohemian maestro Claudio Estrada, Roman Hernandez brothers (Agustín Román, composer of great musical pieces into oblivion today), the master Raul Fernandez Mendoza with its romantic accordion and compositions of all kinds, Salvador Salinas and his expression Campirano, Don Francisco Reina Reguera Director of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puebla at the time, giving concerts in this place, and many more identified with the spirit of "Barrio del Artista".

Visits and retreats from the likes of Diego Rivera and his wife Mrs. Frida Kahlo, the pleasant meetings (for rinsing the mouth) with Maestro Fernando Murillo (Dr. Atl.), The presence of Master David A. Siqueiros, the great artist Francisco Cornejo and many other intellectuals and national movie stars who supported the dream of "Barrio del Artista" is and will remain a corner in Art.

But not everything has been Bohemian and idealism, the group has contributed to the culture of Puebla a large number of Artists as: Faustino Salazar (prestigious portrait), teachers Xochitiotzin Desiderio Hernández, Eliseo Tenorio Velasco, Fernando Ramirez Osorio, precursors of the movement Mexican Mural School in Puebla of the last century, without forgetting the names of Carlos Teodoro Torres, Eduardo Villanueva, Solomon Candia, Dr. Esteban Aguirre Beltran, Martin Serrano, brothers Rafael and Aurelio Leonor Solis maestro Roberto Silva and Miguel Castro Angel Dominguez, who with the expression of their work in various techniques and themes, have been known to Puebla in latitudes outside our borders.


For decades the Union of Fine Arts has promoted the expression of our traditions of an area providing an opportunity for schools of folk dance and theater festivals organized in the square and a number of popular festivals (the burning of Judas, the rosary of the Virgin of Dolores, the holy offerings of all, the annual edition of the satirical calaveras de mi barrio "the inns and pastorelas celebrate at Christmas time and entrenched Thursday corpus, profane religious festival of our culture and José Luis Rodríguez Gallery Alconedo forum currently showing the music, poetry and all kinds of cultural concerns at different levels, with solo exhibitions, collective, and guests from around our state and the interior.

It was at the time that members of this group are co-founders along with other artists of the Federal District of the Garden of Art in Mexico City (Park Sulivan).

Currently in its facilities to shelter large numbers of young people who have been trained in workshops and today these new values are transmitted to succeeding generations who his views on the plastic. Despite all the uncertainties and limitations that have had over 67 years and that detracts us from being a group with a conservative plastic image, the new elements are free to eligible schools Traditionalists or open their creativity and potential to new artistic expressions.

This is the "Barrio del Artista", Old Bohemian tradition of art and culture in our historic towns and Colonial.