★★★★★ 5.0
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European Museum of Modern Art
Right now, as you stand on Carrer de la Barra de Ferro—literally "Iron Bar Street"—you're witnessing something extraordinary that's been unfolding since 2011... every single artwork behind these 18th-century palace walls was created by a living, breathing artist walking among us today. This is the Palau Gomis, completely transformed in 1792 by a cloth merchant named Gomis who gave this building its soul. Watch what happens as you step from this narrow medieval alleyway into the palace... the cramped street suddenly explodes into a soaring 10-meter-high entrance hall, a theatrical trick that's been stunning visitors for over 230 years. Those elegant stone steps ahead lead you into 1,700 square meters where something unprecedented happens in the art world. The MEAM has made a revolutionary choice that would make Picasso himself spin in his grave just next door... they display ZERO abstract art. Not one single abstract piece among their 1,500 works from five continents. Every painting, every sculpture demands that you recognize a face, a body, a story you can touch with your eyes. Here, in rooms where Gomis once traded fabrics, artists from America to Asia prove that realism isn't dead—it's more alive than ever, painted by hands that held brushes just yesterday.
Did You Know?
- The MEAM is housed in the historic Gomis Palace, an 18th-century Neoclassical building that was originally built for a wealthy textile merchant in 1792 and later served as the residence of a French marshal during the Napoleonic invasion of Spain—a rare blend of architectural grandeur, commercial history, and military significance.
- Unlike most modern art museums, the MEAM exclusively focuses on figurative art from the 20th and 21st centuries, deliberately avoiding abstract works; its collections feature photorealistic paintings, striking sculptures, and works that tackle contemporary themes like social criticism, war, and religion, offering a unique counterpoint to Barcelona’s more avant-garde art scene.
- The museum actively involves artists in its operations, with many supporting the institution directly—a response to financial challenges in the arts sector—and hosts not only exhibitions but also live music cycles (classical, blues, flamenco), workshops, and family-friendly activities, making it a dynamic cultural hub beyond a traditional gallery space.