Colectiva Ruta 216 is an exhibition and urban activation project carried out in collaboration with Galería L and Galería Quetzalli, taking as its starting point a T1 Samba van converted into a mobile gallery. Inspired by the history of the “combi”,  as an icon of mobility and gathering in Mexico City, the route seeks to decentralize the circulation of art and bring it closer to diverse audiences through stops and activations in everyday spaces. The project was created by Banana Contemporary, Galería L, and Galería Quetzalli as a strategy to make the distribution of art more agile and to foster accessible and approachable collecting practices.

Each edition brings together a wide selection of artists and design projects, including portable art, utilitarian ceramics, editorial proposals, and contemporary gastronomy. The van is activated in neighborhoods such as Coyoacán, Satélite, and Centro Urbano Miguel Alemán, while Galería L functions as a gathering point with exhibition and sales. In parallel, visits to studios, showrooms, and restaurants are organized, along with participatory and community-focused actions that have included flash tattoos, live painting and printing, concerts, and talks.

The route follows a special year-end calendar designed to encourage informed purchases, accessible pricing, and new relationships between artists, designers, and audiences. More than just a transportation device, Colectiva Ruta 216 establishes a circular circuit between production, exhibition, and purchase, reclaiming public space as a platform for the circulation of ideas and the strengthening of the creative ecosystem.

The project’s impact has been positive both in sales and audience reach, paving the way for its annual repetition and expansion to other cities, maintaining its focus on accessibility, closeness, and community building.