Fundacio Joan Miro: The Iconic Joan Miro Museum in Barcelona

Joan Miró’s Legacy in Barcelona: A Brief History

Is the Joan Miro Foundation worth visiting? Let us try to answer this question in these few lines. First of all, let me present the protagonist: Joan Miró i Ferrà, known as Joan Miro, was a Spanish painter, sculptor, engraver, and ceramist. Born and raised in Barcelona, he lived in different places, including Paris, and was buried on his favourite island, Spanish Mallorca.

One of the most important art figures of the 20th century, Joan Miro left around 2,000 paintings, 500 sculptures, and 400 ceramics, not to mention drawings and lithographs. Close friends with Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro gained international recognition as a surrealistic author, although critics admit that his style is unique and balances somewhere between abstract art, surrealism, fauvism, and expressionism.

Any Barcelonian, even the one who has no idea about the art, has seen the works by Joan Miro. They are everywhere in the city: an enormous mural on the wall of the airport, a mosaic on the pavement in the middle of La Rambla, the statue in the park named after the painter...

And of course the Foundation of Joan Miro, a museum located on top of the Montjuic Hill and built specifically to house the works created by the most celebrated Catalan artist of the XX century.

Miro Museum Exhibitions in Barcelona

The Foundation Joan Miro was initiated by Joan Miro himself and planned as an international art center making art publicly available. The building was designed by Josep Lluis Sert, an internationally renowned Catalan architect and Miro’s close friend. In the design he played a lot with space, color, light and shadow creating a harmonic space, where art intertwines elegantly with the architecture.

Joan Miro's Permanent Collection

The foundation houses around 200 works by Joan Miro himself and hundreds of works and installations by other modern artists. The museum owns in total around 10.000 works There are paintings, sculptures, lithographs and also the destroyed canvases, so-called anti-painting( that might be shocking but raises some reflections).

Joan Miro had this idea of “killing the painting”. His intention was to distance oneself from the classical idea of art and move further than just painting on the easel! He was experimenting a lot with new materials and technics. And often was literally destroying his works after creating theme. Sometimes putting the holsters on fire, or decorating them with the pieces of some other torn apart paintings, or cutting them with the knife. Apart from these acts of destruction, the style of the paintings changes as you move along the museum, as to showcase the progression and the constant transformation that every artist lives through. This place celebrates art and freedom of expression, teaches how to understand and feel the modern artwork.

One of the highlights of the collection is a Fountain of Mercure by Alexander Calder. It was created for the Spanish Pavilion at the 1937 Paris International Exposition, and was exhibited together with Pablo Picasso's Guernica and Joan Miro's The Reaper. All three of them were designed to attract attention to the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. Guernica is now housed in Madrid, The Reaper was a mural that a few years after the exposition was lost or probably destroyed. And The fountain, the only work by the non-Spanish artist, now occupies its place in the Joan Miro Foundation. Exposed under the glass to protect the visitors against the poisoning vapors of mercury.

Joan Miro Temporary Exhibitions

Apart from the permanent collection, the museum goes on with the line offered by Joan Miro himself. There are temporary exhibitions, cultural events and scientific projects held by the foundation on regular basis.

Between the temporary exhibitions there are usually works of the 20 and 21 century contemporary artists.

Miro Museum Interactive Experiences

Fundación Joan Miro offers various tours and workshops for groups, families and individual visitors. One of the most popular family activities is called “A journey with Joan Miro” and this is a an interactive journey where kids learn about Joan Miro and his art through drawing. The guidelines are the quotes and illustrations from the artist’s biography.

The other fun way to discover Joan Miro’s work process is through the different activities; such as drawing, collage, ink splatters. At the end of the tour every participant will create their own collage and who knows maybe the whole artwork as did the maestro himself.

For the most little ones there is a tour called “Family workshop: I Am the Moon, the Sun and a Star?” The kids and parents will be invited to play their role as Miro paintings characters and create all together their own big Mural. Check the schedule on the official website and book in advance to secure your place.

Fundacio Joan Miro Tickets and Opening Hours

The museum opens :

• Tuesday – Saturday: 10 am - 8 pm
• Sunday: 10 am – 7 pm
• The last access to the Foundation is available 30 minutes before closing
• The museum stays closed on Mondays, Except 1 and 15 April, 20 May and 24 June

You can usually get better deals if buying tour tickets online in advanced The prices in the museum are as follows:

• Adults (from 15 years) 15€
• Students aged 15-30 years, seniors over 65 years - 9€
• Free admission for: children under 15 years (accompanied by the adults) and unemployed

Guided tours:

• Adult - 20 €
• Students aged 15-30 years, seniors over 65 years - 14€
• Children under 15 years - 5€ Guided tours are available in English, Spanish, Catalan and French Another option is a guided tour of a building with an architect. Check for the family activities and workshops.

How to Skip the Line in Barcelona at the Miro Museum

Make sure you buy your tickets in advance in order to avoid queuing. Check out our selection of tickets and choose the time slot you prefer. This will guarantee you a seamless and easy entrance.

Fundacio Joan Miro Opening Hours, Location, and Accessibility

Joan Miro foundation is very much focused on being accessible to anyone. The whole building is adapted for the disabled. Besides, the foundation sticks to the idea that art is a basic right for everybody. Even those who can't see or hear, have the possibility to explore the museum through the inclusive activities.

Things to Do Near the Fundació Joan Miró

Joan Miro Foundation is located on top of the Montjuic hill, one of the famous attractions that must be visited by anyone coming to Barcelona as a tourist.

Once just a forested mountain outside of the city, it has first been taken care of when the preparation for the International Exhibition in 1929 has started. The area at the foot of the mountain has been totally reconstructed featuring the exhibition pavilions, common areas and a palace used as an exhibition headquarters.

Later on, in 1992 Barcelona hosted the Olympic Games and this is when the whole area of the Montjuïc Mountain has been remodelled to host the Olympic Village including the Olympic stadium, swimming-pool and other Sports installations. The rest of the mountain is occupied with the botanical Gardens, beautiful parks and observation decks.

So if you decide to spend a day on Montjuic, you can mount the hill on funicular soaking in a stunning city view, then walk along the park towards the Joan Miro Museum and after your visit walk along the Olympic stadium down to the National Palace now featuring the museum of National art of Catalunya. You can wrap up your day with a flamenco show and a traditional dinner in the Spanish village, an open-air museum featuring architectural styles of the different regions of Spain. It promises to be an exciting day full of discoveries and insights!

Parc Joan Miro

One of Joan Miro's works donated to the city is located in the Parc that offers a piece of calmness and serenity among the city's stone jungles. Joan Miro Parc occupies an area equal to four city blocks and features various areas that differ in their appearance and function.

There is a zone where you can peacefully walk among Canary palms and fig trees, another zone where you can play pétanque, an area to have a chat at the table in the bar while watching your kids play at the playground.

And of course there is a place where you can admire the Joan Miro'a statue, donated to the city by the author himself. A 22-meter high Dona i Ocell (Woman and bird), probably the most recognized ok work by the famous artist, features actually a phallic symbol, as a farewell message sent to Francoism.

So if you are planning your trip to Barcelona, don't forget to include Miro's experience to your visit! Joan Miro is a part of the city, inextricably linked to its culture, history and everyday life! Book your tickets, choose an activity that mostly suits your interests and keep your eyes wide open. Because miracles await on every step!