Some of the Best Temporary Museum Exhibitions in Barcelona for 2024.
Barcelona offers a truly impressive cultural scene, with many museums and galleries. Each one showcase the artistic heritage and creativity of the Catalan and Spanish people. In 2024, there will be several temporary exhibitions in different museums, in and around Barcelona. Each one is sure to attract visitors from all over the world. Here are our top picks:
Erotic Museum of Barcelona (Museu de l’Erotica)
This quirky museum in La Rambla is a collection of over 800 artifacts tracing the history and evolution of eroticism and human sexuality. In 2024, it will host a special exhibition titled “Sex and the City: Eroticism in Urban Spaces”.This exhibition will explore how sexuality is expressed and experienced in different urban contexts, from ancient Rome to modern Tokyo. The exhibition will feature paintings, sculptures, photographs, films, and interactive installations. Each one will challenge and stimulate the senses of the visitors. visit website
The Gaudi Exhibition Center
An exclusive space for understanding what made Gaudi such a great and unique architect in a very enjoyable way. This exhibition can be viewed through a spectacular 180º video introduction. There is also an interactive augmented reality exhibit, and a collection of original models and drawings. During 2024, the center will present a new exhibition called “Gaudi and Nature: The Organic Inspiration”. This will reveal how Gaudi was influenced by the forms and patterns of nature in his designs. The exhibition will include examples of his biomimetic architecture. Such examples include the Sagrada Familia, the Park Güell, and the Casa Batlló, as well as his studies of plants, animals, and landscapes. visit website
Fundació Joan Miró
The foundation dedicated to the Catalan artist Joan Miró, who was one of the most influential figures of the 20th century avant-garde scene. The foundation houses a permanent collection of Miró’s works, as well as temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. In 2024, it will host a major retrospective of the American artist Cindy Sherman, who is known for her self-portraits in which she assumes different roles and identities. The exhibition will span her entire career, from the 1970s to the present, and will show how she has used photography, film, and performance to explore the themes of gender, identity, and representation. visit website
MACBA Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona
This modern museum showcases the most innovative and experimental art of the present and the recent past. The MACBA museum has a permanent collection of works by artists such as Antoni Tàpies, Marcel Broodthaers, and Keith Haring, as well as temporary exhibitions of emerging and established artists from around the world. In 2024, it will present a solo exhibition of the Brazilian artist Daniel Steegmann Mangrané, who works with a variety of media, such as sculpture, installation, film, and virtual reality. The exhibition will focus on his interest in the relationships between nature and culture, and will feature works that create immersive and sensory environments that blur the boundaries between reality and fiction. visit website
Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)
The national museum of Catalan art, located in the Palau Nacional of Montjuïc, which was built for the 1929 International Exhibition. The museum displays a collection of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Modern, and Contemporary art, as well as photography, drawings, prints, posters, coins, and medals. This year during 2024, it will host an exhibition titled “The Golden Age of Catalan Painting: From the 13th to the 15th Century”, which will showcase the artistic splendor and diversity of the medieval period in Catalonia. The exhibition will feature masterpieces by artists such as Jaume Huguet, Lluís Dalmau, Bernat Martorell, and Pere Serra, as well as illuminated manuscripts, sculptures, and goldsmithery. visit website
Museu Picasso
The museum dedicated to the life and work of Málaga born Pablo Picasso, who spent his formative years in Barcelona. The museum has one of the most extensive collections of Picasso’s works, especially from his early years,. It also shows temporary exhibitions of his later periods and other artists related to him. Throughout 2024, the museum will host an exhibition titled “Picasso and the Mediterranean: A Dialogue of Cultures”. This will explore how Picasso was inspired by the Mediterranean region and its cultures, from his native Malaga to France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. The exhibition will include paintings, drawings, ceramics, sculptures, and prints that reflect Picasso’s fascination with the Mediterranean landscape, history, mythology, and traditions. visit website
These are just some of the temporary exhibitions that will take place in Barcelona in 2024. We will continue to update this post with more temporary museum exhibitions in Barcelona as soon as they are announced.
Some of The Best Permanent Museum Exhibitions in Barcelona
Here is my pick of the best permanent museum exhibitions in Barcelona. The selection below should be on the top of your list of museum exhibitions to visit in Barcelona for 2024.
Picasso Museum
The Picasso Museum is one of the most visited museums in Barcelona, and for a good reason. It houses the largest collection of works by the Spanish master, with over 4,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, and ceramics. The museum is located in five medieval palaces in the Gothic Quarter, creating a unique contrast between the ancient architecture and the modern art. The museum covers Picasso’s early years in Barcelona, his Blue Period, his Cubist experiments, and his later works. You can also admire some of his most famous series, such as Las Meninas and The Pigeons.
National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC)
The National Museum of Catalan Art (MNAC) is the place to go if you want to learn about the history and diversity of Catalan art, from the Romanesque to the 20th century. The museum is located in the impressive Palau Nacional, a former palace built for the 1929 International Exhibition, on the Montjuic hill. The museum boasts one of the world’s best collections of Romanesque art, with stunning frescoes, sculptures, and metalwork. You can also admire the works of Catalan masters such as Gaudi, Casas, Rusiñol, and Dalí, as well as international artists such as El Greco, Velázquez, and Rubens.
Joan Miro Foundation
The Joan Miro Foundation is a museum and a cultural center dedicated to the life and work of one of the most influential Catalan artists of the 20th century. The museum was founded by Miro himself, who donated a large part of his personal collection, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints. The museum is located in a modern building designed by Josep Lluís Sert, a friend and collaborator of Miro, on the Montjuic hill. The museum showcases Miro’s artistic evolution, from his Surrealist and Abstract periods to his later works, full of color and symbolism. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art, as well as workshops, concerts, and lectures.
Modern Art Museum of Barcelona (MACBA)
The Modern Art Museum of Barcelona (MACBA) is the ultimate destination for contemporary art lovers. The museum is housed in a striking white building designed by Richard Meier, in the heart of the Raval neighborhood. The museum displays a collection of over 5,000 works by national and international artists, from the 1950s to the present day. The museum focuses on the artistic movements and trends that have shaped the contemporary culture, such as Pop Art, Minimalism, Conceptualism, and Postmodernism. You can see the works of artists such as Basquiat, Warhol, Klee, Tàpies, and Barceló, among others.
Moco Museum Barcelona
The Moco Museum Barcelona is a new addition to the city’s cultural scene, opened in 2023. The museum exhibits iconic works by internationally renowned artists and rising stars, with a focus on street art and modern and contemporary art. The museum is located in a historic building in the Born district, formerly a textile factory. The museum features a permanent collection of works by artists such as Banksy, KAWS, Keith Haring, and Damien Hirst, as well as temporary exhibitions of emerging talents. The museum aims to activate experiences, spark imagination, challenge the norm, broaden perspectives, and question the world around us.
You can find full reviews of the above permanent museum exhibitions in Barcelona throughout this website. We will keep you posted of any additions or changes.
