About Magenta
A space for art in Guadalajara de Buga
Magenta is an art gallery with a lot going on inside. Besides exhibitions, there are regular classes, one-off workshops, experiences for travelers and events arranged directly with whoever gets in touch. We opened in 2007 as an exhibition space and, over the years, added the school, the events and the experiences.
We're a local, independent space, and we get personally involved with everyone who walks through the door.
What we do
Magenta works on four fronts under one roof.
Gallery
We curate and show artwork. We rotate exhibitions on our own calendar and work with local artists and artists from elsewhere.
Experiences
On a trip or a day out? Five experiences with a set length, ready to book. We're a registered tour operator (RNT 273022).
School
Drawing and painting classes to keep learning over time, with personal guidance from Aracelly Melo, and one-off workshops (one session, one project) to make something with your hands in an afternoon. Both welcome people at every level, including complete beginners.
Events and creative gatherings
Celebrating an occasion? A tailor-made proposal, just for your group. A special date, a get-together with friends, a different kind of bachelorette party or simply an afternoon making something with your hands, at the gallery or elsewhere in the Valle del Cauca.
How we understand the work
We work from the idea that art isn't a distant luxury or mere decoration. It's a craft learned with the hands, a language for saying things, a way of being with time. That shapes how we curate exhibitions, how we teach and how we host the groups that come to celebrate.
We work with care, not at scale: spaces are limited and attention is personal. No rehearsed scripts, no autopilot experiences.
Buga as a place
Guadalajara de Buga is where Magenta exists, and it couldn't exist the same way anywhere else. The city has a cultural life of its own: a recognized heritage tradition, a fabric of local artists and a particular relationship with the Valle del Cauca. Magenta sees itself as part of that fabric, not something imported or disconnected.
When you can, look at the city beyond the obvious. And when you come to the gallery, know that you're also stepping into a way of living Buga.
The team
Magenta is run by two partners: artist Aracelly Melo Castrillón, the gallery's director, and Claudia Peña.
Aracelly is a visual artist, art teacher and curator, and she teaches the classes at the Escuela de Arte Magenta.
How to visit
We're in Guadalajara de Buga, Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Message us on WhatsApp and we'll arrange your visit: we'll tell you what's on that day and, if you're coming with a group, agree on a time.