Joan Miró was born into a family of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the Barri Gòtic neighborhood of Barcelona. He began drawing classes at the age of seven at a private school and, at 14, he enrolled at the fine art academy of La Llotja and later studied at the Cercle Artístic de Sant Lluc. In 1918, at 25, he had his first show at the Galeries Dalmau, which was widely ridiculed. Sensing his work would not be appreciated fully at home, he moved to become part of the flourishing Fauve and Cubist scenes in Montparnasse, continuing to summer in Catalonia. In Paris, Hemingway became an early fan and Miró became part of the Surrealist group. In the following decades, he moved between different genres and artistic styles and became a lauded name in the art world.
By 1971, Miró was an incredibly established and influential artist and decided to bequeath an art foundation to his hometown. The building was designed by his close friend and architect Josep Lluís Sert and filled with seminal works throughout the entirety of his career. It is consider one of the world's best museum buildings and holds the greatest single collection of the artist’s work; boasting around 220 paintings, 180 sculptures, some textiles and more than 8000 drawings.
While only a selection of the collection is ever on display, the museum skillfully takes one through Miró's career. The museum also features the work of some other contemporary artists of Miró's including Calder, Henry Moore, Antoni Tàpies, Eduardo Chillida, Yves Tanguy, Fernand Léger and others. Additionally, as Miró wanted to create an international, interdisciplinary centre, the foundation is always organising alternating contemporary exhibitions from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as a calendar of different academic research projects and cultural events.
The museum has lots going for it. As well as the artworks, there is the small Jardí de les Escultures, garden with various pieces of modern sculpture, a rooftop terrace that takes in an amazing view over Barcelona, a lovely museum café filled with works by the artist, and "Nits de música" (nights of music), which see classical musicians come and perform each Thursday. If you have found a vacation rental in Barcelona, this is a must-see for art-lovers!
Opening Hours:
Closed on Mondays
Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat: 10am-8pm
Thursday: 10am-9pm
Sunday: 10am-3pm
Tickets:
Adults: €12
Kids go free
While only a selection of the collection is ever on display, the museum skillfully takes one through Miró's career. The museum also features the work of some other contemporary artists of Miró's including Calder, Henry Moore, Antoni Tàpies, Eduardo Chillida, Yves Tanguy, Fernand Léger and others. Additionally, as Miró wanted to create an international, interdisciplinary centre, the foundation is always organising alternating contemporary exhibitions from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as a calendar of different academic research projects and cultural events.
The museum has lots going for it. As well as the artworks, there is the small Jardí de les Escultures, garden with various pieces of modern sculpture, a rooftop terrace that takes in an amazing view over Barcelona, a lovely museum café filled with works by the artist, and "Nits de música" (nights of music), which see classical musicians come and perform each Thursday. If you have found a vacation rental in Barcelona, this is a must-see for art-lovers!
Opening Hours:
Closed on Mondays
Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat: 10am-8pm
Thursday: 10am-9pm
Sunday: 10am-3pm
Tickets:
Adults: €12
Kids go free
Photo credit: Kippelboy / CC BY-SA 3.0
