La Voz Staff
In the late 1980s a group of gallerists in Old San Juan came together to form what were the Martes de Galeria en San Juan, where every first Tuesday of the month all the galleries would open after hours up to 10:00pm in an effort to promote culture and art on the slowest day of the week for businesses. This led to a revolutionary event where thousands of people would go to San Juan to see art at all the galleries and places where you would meet and have drinks with artists, poets, writers, musicians and the elite.
After a 15 year hiatus the famous Marte de Galeria are back with Alexis Figueroa from Trailer Park Proyects and Javier Olmeda from
Constructo at the helm of the project. The event has been proposed to be retaken by many but to no avail until now. After gentrification grew in San Juan most artists had to move to the next town over in Santurce where rent was significantly lower and the art scene blossomed thanks to world renown projects like Santurce es Ley produced by Alexis Bousquets and most recently Art Hop by by artist Tony Rodriguez. Now Santurce will have a monthly art event that will showcase hundreds of local and international artists from all over, making this a must attend event every month.
With a roster of around 40 galleries and artist studios on board, the revamped initiative will also have small local businesses and
restaurants join in to offer a full cultural experience and show what Santurce has in store for its visitors. There are over 30 business collaborating as well as all the major Museums including Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Museo de Arte y Diseno de Miramar who have joined to help promote the art scene and artists in the Island. From coffee shops and bookstores to record stores and smoke shops a real full on experience for families and art lovers alike.
Javier Olmeda of Constructo has created a google map layered with all the participating galleries, parks, museums, restaurants, bars, bookstores, music stores, coffee shops, bus and trolley routes, parking spots and other participating and collaborating businesses.
You can access and download the map free of charge at www.martesdegaleria.org, you can also see the monthly programming and flyers of all the current exhibitions and who will be participating in next month’s edition of the event. Also free of charge a luxury trolley that will take visitors to 5 designated stops where they can enjoy and visit the different galleries and businesses in each specific stop. A Martes de Galeria raffle will be held with products from all participating businesses to help promote their products and help create traffic in their businesses. Anyone can participate for free just comment on a specific post and participate. Prizes won must be picked up at Constructo on next month’s Martes de Galeria en Santurce or they will be voided.
All this is possible with the help of local established companies like Cervecera de Puerto Rico, Ron del Barrilito and Chocolate Cortes to small local businesses like Tostado, La Puttanesca and La Comuna and start-up Mundo Society, with whose help can keep this wonderful traditional event running for the newer generations to enjoy. Remember if you are planning on visiting Puerto Rico come for the first Tuesday of every month to enjoy this cultural experience. Next Martes de Galeria is set for December 2nd, 2025 and January 6th, 2026. For more information make sure to follow on Instagram: @martesdegaleriaenSanturce @trailerparkproj
