The Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires is the city’s most distinguished art museum and one of its most prominent cultural features. It provides a fascinating insight into Latin American art culture through a stunning display of works by the region’s most talented artists.
The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, or MALBA as it is known, is one of the finest collections of Latin American art in the world. Located in the tranquil Palermo area of Buenos Aires, it hosts a permanent collection of some 200 artworks. This collection spans the entire 20th century highlighting the paintings, photography, drawings, sculptures, installations and prints of Latin America’s most celebrated artists. MALBA has its own Cine showing independent films.
The permanent collection is quite small, meaning there are always fresh temporary exhibitions on display. The upper floors showcase work by internationally renowned artists – they were the first gallery to show Andy Warhol’s work in Argentina in 2009 – while basement galleries show cutting-edge work by local artists.
As part of its art education and awareness program, MALBA often hosts lectures and workshops on a whole range of different topics. Most are in Spanish, but there is the occasional English-language presentation as well. For those travelling with children in tow, MALBA offers crafty activity sessions, which may be a good option for a not-so-sunny day. While the kids are off making art, check out the outstanding bookshop, home to all sorts of intriguing gifts, or unwind at MALBA’s quaint café overlooking Plaza Republica del Perú.
Wednesday is discount day at ALBA, where adults get half price tickets and students, teachers and seniors enter for free. MALBA is one of the easier places to get to in Buenos Aires, with busses stopping on the street right outside the gallery – hop on numbers 67, 102, 130 or 124 for an easy ride from the centre of town.
