Fundació Joan Miró—sometimes in English referred to as simply the Joan Miró Museum—is a museum that brings together a vast array of artworks spanning the entire career of the modernist art legend and Barcelona native, Joan Miró. In addition to its impressive permanent collection, Fundació Joan Miró also has gallery space dedicated to showcasing the work of contemporary artists practicing their craft today. You’ll also find here two gift shops and an on-site café, as well as a robust calendar of special events throughout the year.
History of the Fundació Joan Miró
One of the most remarkable things about the Fundació Joan Miró is that the museum itself was created by Joan Miró. Working closely with his dear friend Joan Prats, Miró first put his idea for the museum into motion during the late 1960s. The two men sought to establish an institution that would not only present Miró’s artwork exactly as he intended them to be displayed, but also a place where those works could on a regular basis be placed into conversation with works by younger artists conducting groundbreaking experiments in contemporary art.
Fundació Joan Miró opened its doors to the public in the summer of 1975. Its sleek modern building was designed by the renowned architect Josep Lluís Sert, and occupies a stunning location on Montjuïc, one of Barcelona’s most famous hills; Montjuïc is also where you’ll encounter such popular Barcelona attractions as Palau Nacional (home of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya), Poble Espanyol, and Jardí Botànic, the city’s lovely botanical garden.
Fundació Joan Miró Highlights
The Fundació Joan Miró is home to one of the world’s most impressive collections of artworks by Joan Miró. In total, the museum houses roughly 15,000 paintings, sculptures, textiles, and drawings—many of which were donated by Miró and his estate. The Fundació Joan Miró is also home to the Espai 12 studio; this distinctive space is utilized as a showcase for the work of emerging artists who are pushing the boundaries of contemporary art in new and fascinating directions.
When it comes to analyzing the work of an artist who led as lengthy and diverse a career as Joan Miró, everyone is bound to have different opinions on which of his pieces are the most notable. Still, most experts agree that some of the most important artworks typically on display at Fundació Joan Miró include the paintings Village and Church of Mont-roig, The Music-Hall Usher, and Figure in Front of the Sun; as well as the sculptures Personage (with Umbrella), Solar Bird, and The Wind Clock.
Fundació Joan Miró also routinely stages temporary exhibitions. By their very nature these ever-rotating exhibits are subject to change; still, a selection of recent shows of note includes Opening the Archives 03, a presentation of sketches Miró created during the 1930s in preparation for making a number of wooden “constructions”; Our Ghosts Live in the Future, the first solo exhibition in Spain of work by the artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen; and Can Coriol, which brought together photographs by Oriol Enguany in the museum’s foyer.
More to See and Do at the Fundació Joan Miró
The many memorable artworks on display at the Fundació Joan Miró tend to keep most people quite busy throughout their visit. Still, that’s far from all there is to do here. Keep reading for a rundown of other things to see, do, and know about as you plan your upcoming trip to this popular museum.
*Visitors desiring to learn even more about the life, work, and legacy of Joan Miró will for sure want to download the Bloomberg Connects app to their phone. Once you have this free app at your fingertips, you can access the Fundació Joan Miró informational guide. This terrific resource contains a museum map, expert commentaries on famous Miró artworks, background information on temporary exhibitions, and more.
*Fundació Joan Miró is home to not one but two well-curated Miró-themed stores. The museum’s gift shop sells an assortment of items relating to Miró, his art, and the city of Barcelona; you’ll find here all kinds of striking clothing, home-décor accessories, jewelry, kids’ toys, and games. The Fundació Joan Miró bookstore carries a sophisticated selection of books on contemporary art, architecture, and design—as well as a number of art periodicals, posters, and prints.
*The Miró Café occupies a pleasant garden-terrace courtyard at the center of the building. It’s a relaxing spot to savor a glass of wine, grab a quick snack, or enjoy a meal chosen from their menu of Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
*If you’d like to extend the time you spend engaging with the artwork of Miró beyond the scope of the museum, Fundació Joan Miró has put together a delightful self-guided tour of Barcelona landmarks with connections to the great artist. It’s available on the “Barcelona Miró Tour” page of the museum’s official website. It’ll showcase approximately two-dozen restaurants, galleries, murals, hotels, and more, all spread out across some of the city’s most popular neighborhoods.
*Fundació Joan Miró regularly hosts music concerts, informational lectures, and assorted other special events. For more information on the sorts of activities that’ll be scheduled to take place when you’re in town, check out the museum’s “What’s On” webpage.
Why the Fundació Joan Miró Should Be on Your Must-See List
Joan Miró isn’t just one of the most significant artists of the twentieth century, he’s an artist whose work is inextricably tied to the city of Barcelona, and in a few notable instances, this connection is literal: visitors can see Miró’s creations in such prominent places as La Rambla and the Barcelona airport. That’s why no art lover should visit Barcelona and pass up the chance to stop at Fundació Joan Miró. It’s an invigorating place to explore the full arc of Miró’s career—plus, when you’re done with the galleries, the museum’s rooftop sculpture garden has stunning views of Barcelona and Montjuïc.