The Joan Miró Foundation is one of Barcelona's most awe-inspiring attractions. View the art of one of Spain's most beloved 20th century artists on the hilltops of Barcelona.
The Joan Miró Foundation (Fundación Joan Miró) should be on everyone's short list of sites to see while in Barcelona; if not for the amazing and diverse body of artwork, then for the breathtaking architectural design of the buildings which comprise the Foundation's grounds.
Although Miró spent much time in Majorca and Paris, his vast collection of work seems most at home in Barcelona, his birth city. The Foundation holds over 14,000 works, including painting, sculpture, drawings, texite and ceramics. The Museum also includes works by Tápies, Duchamp, Chillida, Ernst, Moore and Alexander Calder, among others.
Born in 1893, Miró's unique artistic style reflects the passage of popular art movements at the beginning of the 20th century. Before maturing into the legendary surrealist artist we consider him today, Miró's early work undeniably shows the influence of various art movements, whether it be the broken and reassembled figures of cubism, or the bright colors of fauvism. After a 1920 visit to Paris, Miró's work took on a new dreamlike quality as he began to visually interpret the poetry of surrealist acquaintances like the movement's founder Andre Breton. From then on, Miró's work became a study of the abstraction of the subconscious.
The Foundation in Barcelona was created with Miro's approval at the insistence of those close to the artist. However, Miró requested that place in the museum be reserved for other artists so that the foundation could be viewed as a Center for the Study of Contemporary Art.
Architect Josep Lluís Sert designed the museum, which is a masterpiece unto itself. Whitewashed buildings in a Mediterranean style surround a courtyard that is filled with olive trees and an herb garden. The art is exhibited under natural light that floods in from overhead skylights. In addition, due to its location on top of Montjuïc hill, the Foundation boasts a breathtaking view of the city below.
DIVENTO suggests...
Having a coffee in the Foundation's restaurant patio. Its relaxing atmosphere is the ideal ending to the visit to the museum.
Fundació Joan Miró
Parc de Montjuïc, s/n, 08038 Barcelona