Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona

The Joan Miró Foundation (Catalan: Fundació Joan Miró) is an art museum in Barcelona that holds and presents an outstanding collection of works by Catalan artist Joan Miró (1893-1983).

Located in the Parc de Montjuïc, since 1975 the Foundation is housed in an interesting building designed by Catalan architect Josep Lluís Sert – also the architect of the Maeght Foundation building in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France – in a characteristic “Mediterranean-modern” style.

The Foundation, whose activity is primarily aimed to present the work of Joan Miró,  also promotes modern and contemporary art through special exhibitions, conferences, and workshops.

The collection of paintings, sculptures, and works on paper of the Foundation is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive dedicated to Miró and covers all his artistic periods. The permanent exhibition is divided into eight interconnected sections which provide the visitors with a complete overview of the career of one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

“Terra” (Earth); “Més enllà de la pintura“ (Beyond painting); “Violència – evasió” (Violence – escape); “Anonimat” (Anonymity); “Poesia i silenci” (Poetry and silence); “Anti-Painting” (Anti-painting); “Sobreteixims” (Patches) e “Art i quotidianitat” (Art and everyday life) illustrate the key concepts of Miró’s vision and work, and his will to transcend figurative painting.

Most of the works on view at the Mirò Foundation were donated by the artist himself in 1975, others are donations or long-term loans by Mirò’s wife and family, while others are on loan from private and public collections.
The foundation also holds a small collection of works by other artists, including Alexander Calder, Marcel Duchamp, and Antoni Tàpies.

The Foundation’s building, fully accessible to physically impaired people, includes a library, a gift shop, a bookshop, and a cafe-restaurant.

Fundació Joan Miró, aerial view, courtesy Fundació Joan Miró

Fundació Joan Miró, main entrance, courtesy Fundació Joan Miró

Fundació Joan Miró, interior view, courtesy Fundació Joan Miró

Fundació Joan Miró, installation view, courtesy Fundació Joan Miró

Fundació Joan Miró, roof terrace, photo Jaime Silva

Cover image, a photo of the celebration for the 40th anniversary of the Joan Miró Foundation. Photo courtesy of Fundació Joan Miró