Visit Fundacio Joan Miro …and Enjoy the Works of a Great Catalan Artist.

Joan Miro was one of the great artists of the 20th century … a towering figure known all over the world  and a “favorite son” of Catalonia.

The Fundacio Joan Miro, the museum housing much of the work of this prolific artist, is a gleaming white building that sits atop Montjuic Hill. It’s where you’ll find a collection that includes more than 300 paintings , 150 sculptures, 9 tapestries, Miro’s complete graphic works and more than 8,000 drawings, letters and unpublished documents – all there to enable you to study, review and develop an understanding of his limitless creativity.

Interestingly, the Foundation opened its doors to the public for the first time on June 10, 1975.

Joan Miro (1893-1983), was born into a family of artisans and, throughout his lifetime was considered to be one of the most prolific and influential Catalan artists. His works are instantly recognizable by their bright colors, vivid tones and animated forms. In fact, Miro’s trademark figures are birds, women, Catalan peasants and, most notably, heavenly stars.

The artist created these images with broad, sweeping brushstrokes in the colors he loved – red, yellow,blue and green.

Miro, himself, established the Fundacio Joan Miro as a permanent setting for his life’s work and as a home for modern art in Barcelona, which is why the museum also has a library, bookshop and auditorium in addition to the gallery housing the art.

A few words about the building: designed by Josep Lluis Sert, the museum itself features simple white walls, terracotta flagstone floors and an arched roof – the perfect architectural setting for the extraordinary Joan Miro exhibit which is characterized by his famous childlike shapes and his bold use of color. In fact, the museum is an excellent example of the Rationalist architecture that is well-known in Catalonia.

Ten galleries make viewing easy. Miro’s extensive collection of art has been arranged in 10 specially-built galleries, all of which feature large windows to allow natural daylight to brighten the rooms. Visitors can wander through the ten galleries as they please.

However, to better understand Miro’s work, audiotours are available and can provide enlightening information about the politics and other motivating factors that inspired him to create many of the paintings and sculptures that fill the museum.

There is a permanent exhibit that covers his early years in Barcelona as an aspiring young artist to his time in Paris and his relationship with the avant-garde of the French art scene.

Miro’s works were deeply influenced by the horrors of the wars which occurred during his lifetime. He was repulsed by the violence and that attitude is reflected in his motifs of universal harmony featuring the bright colors for which he was known.

One of the highlights of the Miro exhibit is a huge tapestry – in bright red, green, blue and yellow -  with a star and a growing moon in the background. Designed specifically for the Foundation in 1979, in collaboration with Josep Royo, the tapestry is located on the museum’s ground floor. However, it can be seen and enjoyed better, if viewed from above – from a gallery on an upper floor.

There is also a roof terrace, in addition to the inner galleries, where interesting and quirky sculptures are sometime s exhibited. The terrace is also good for enjoying a “bird’s-eye view” of the city.

A good tip. When you complete your tour of the permanent and temporary exhibits, you may want to consider a stop at the museum’s restaurant. It’s located in the middle of the building and features a very inviting open-air terrace with a small garden.
There is also a library that features the work of Joan Miro and other contemporary modern artists and a gift shop that sells inexpensive souvenirs.

A final word. Although it was designed specifically to house the Miro Collection more than thirty years ago, Fundacio Joan Miro has demonstrated its ability to adapt and change and, today, displays the works of many other 20th and 21st century artists in addition to Joan Miro.

Hours of Operation.
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. (October to June)
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (July to September)
Thursday: 10:00 A.M. to 9:30 P.M.
Sundays and Public Holidays: 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.
Closed on Monday (except for public holidays)

Admission to Fundacio Joan Miro
All visitors will be admitted up to 15 minutes before closing time.
The cost of admission – Permanent exhibits
Adults: 8:00 Euros
Students, aged 15-30; persons aged 65 and over; unemployed persons (proof required) 6:00 Euros
School groups: 5:00 Euros
Adult groups: 6:00 Euros

The cost of admission – temporary exhibits
Adults: 4:00 Euros
Students aged 15-30; Persons aged 65 and over; unemployed persons (proof required): 3:00 Euros
Espai 13 (young artists’ gallery): 4:00 Euros
Audioguide: 4:00 Euros

You may like his works and style or not but Joan Miro was one of the truly great artists of the 20th century, famous for his bright colors and his vast body of work. See for yourself. If you enjoy seeing modern art then include a visit to Fundacio Joan Miro during your stay in Barcelona.