Museo Soumaya: A cultural and architectural treasure of Mexico

Published October 6, 2023

Carlos Slim Helú was born in Mexico City in 1940, the fifth of six children to Lebanese immigrants who ran successful small businesses in Mexico City. When Carlos was 24, he accompanied his mother to visit their neighbors and met the love of his life, 15-year-old Soumaya Domit Gemayel, also of Lebanese origin. They married two years later, had six children, and built their business empire Grupo Carso, a name derived from the first letters of both their names: Carlos and Soumaya.

Unfortunately, Soumaya had been battling kidney disease and despite having had a kidney transplant, Soumaya died in 1999. Carlos Slim opened Museo Soumaya at Plaza Carso in 2011 as a monument in her honor to share their private art collection with the world in line with her philanthropic principles.

Museo Soumaya is a true titan in preserving and displaying world art history and masterpieces spanning 30 centuries. This private museum houses an astounding 70,000 works of art by Monet, Picasso, Degas, Van Gogh, Salvador Dali, Degas, Renoir, Matisse, Leonora Carrington, Rodin, Botticelli, Michelangelo, Diego Rivera, Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros, Miró, El Greco, and many other timeless masters.

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