Art-lovers will always find great works of art to admire if they book a villa in Spain, almost anywhere in the country – from famous and historic galleries displaying art from throughout history like the Prado in Madrid, to museums dedicated to one iconic and beloved artist like the one for Salvador Dalí in his home-town of Figueres, to churches filled with painted and sculpted masterpieces, to the astounding architectural gems dotting the streets in the likes of Barcelona. Of course, there are also temporary exhibitions, special events, and other art events that make particular times and destinations especially appealing for the art fan considering a vacation in Spain.
This year, for example, is a great time for those who love the work of Joan Miró to book a holiday rental in Catalonia and visit Barcelona as the fifty-year anniversary of the Joan Miró Foundation sees this already fascinating gallery play host to a whole year of special events celebrating this great artist...
Established in 1975 and located in a purpose-built modernist building on Montjuic hill, overlooking the city, the Joan Miró Foundation houses a fascinating collection of the artist’s works including paintings, sculptures, and pieces in other media as well as works by other great artists such as Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, Henry Moore, and more. Set up by Miró himself, a little less than a decade before his death at age 90 in 1983, he originally conceived the foundation as a space for contemporary art studies in his home- town. This special museum has lived on as an invaluable resource, therefore, as a wonderful resource to other artists as well as art-lovers and as a great testament to his work and life.
Now, fifty years later, the foundation has planned an entire year of events to celebrate the anniversary, milestone, and great artist. These events include everything from temporary exhibitions, to concerts on the grounds, to special opening hours.
One of the most interesting events is the exhibition that will run from the 10th of October 2025 until February 2026, “Miró and the United States,” which explores the artist’s ties to the US and the dialogue between his and contemporaneous American artists’ works. It recounts his exhibitions and visits to America in his lifetime and showcases his art alongside pieces by the likes of Louise Bourgeois, Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, Arshile Gorky, Alice Trumbull Mason, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and many others. Co-organised with the Phillips Collection in Washington, the exhibition will then go on to be displayed in that institution in 2026, after its run at the Joan Miró Foundation.
Another major exhibition for the anniversary is, “Poetry has just begun. 50 years of the Miró,” which opened on the 11th of June 2025 and runs until the 6th of April 2026. This charts the beginnings of the foundation, in their historic context in Spain of the time, right up to present day. This will include information about how the Spanish Civil War affected the project, details about the building and its design and construction, changes brought on by the Barcelona Summer Olympics, and also charts the more recent history, paying tribute to the artists who have been key players in the past few years. To further mark the 50th anniversary, the Joan Miró Foundation is reopening its Cypress Garden, reorganising the permanent collection, and more.
So, for art-lovers who find a villa in Barcelona or a vacation rental in Catalonia and come visit for a day, while this wonderful institution is always fascinating, there has never been a better time to visit this incredible museum! Be sure to plan a visit if you are coming to spend time delving into the impossibly rich cultural heritage of this extraordinary city.
