“The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism.” All photos courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden
The New York Botanical Garden’s beloved Orchid Show officially opened this weekend, bringing the bold colors of Mexican modernism to the Bronx. Inspired by the work of Mexican modernist architect Luis Barragán, “The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism” turns the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a vibrant landscape of thousands of orchids, tropical plants, and succulents like cacti and agave. The breathtaking display is on view through April 27.
Barragán, a key figure in Mexican modernist architecture, blended global trends with the rich natural textures, bold colors, and native plant life of Mexico.
The exhibition brings the textures and forms of Barragán’s style to life, with fountain features and colorful walls and lattices.
In addition to the vibrant orchids, this year’s show will feature succulents like cacti and agave. Visitors will also learn about orchids in the wild and NYBG’s ongoing global research and conservation efforts from the garden’s horticulture staff.
On select evenings during “The Orchid Show,” visitors ages 21 and up can experience Orchid Nights—a vibrant evening of music, dancing, cash bars, and food for purchase at the “lushest bar in town.” The events are led by a DJ and professional dancers, bringing the bold colors and style of the exhibition to life.
DJ hellotones, known as “El Hijo de PueblaYork,” is a Bronx-born DJ at the forefront of a cultural renaissance within New York City’s Mexican diaspora. He reimagines the cumbia genre, introducing it to new spaces and audiences.
Mark Saldana, also known as Coolmarx, will host community-based dance lessons with a focus on all regional variations of cumbia. Born and raised in Queens and now based in Brooklyn, Saldana teaches styles such as cumbia colombiana, ecuatoriana, peruana, and mexicana.
Tickets start at $35 for adults, $31 for students, and $15 for children ages 2-12. Buy tickets here.
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Editor’s note: The original version of this article was published on January 8, 2025 but has since been updated to include photos of the installation.
“The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism.” All photos courtesy of the New York Botanical Garden
