Moco Museum Barcelona
Moco Museum Barcelona
Moco Museum Barcelona
MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART
The Moco Museum opened its doors in Barcelona in October 2021 and this second branch is just as captivating as the original in Amsterdam. You won’t be disappointed by all the exceptional modern and contemporary art on display in the old Palacio Cervelló next door to the Picasso Museum.
Who is writing here?
Just a few days after the opening of Moco Museum Barcelona, Jacqueline and I, Céline, went to see this new museum! It is just great! Modern and contemporary art of very well-known artists! Just see it for yourself!
Note: The works in the Moco are in constant rotation, sometimes new ones are added, sometimes old ones are removed, and sometimes they are completely rearranged because of an exhibition. Don’t be disappointed if you can’t find one or the other work.
Opening hours:
Monday – Thursday: 10.00 – 20.00 hrs
Friday – Sunday: 10.00 – 21.00 hrs
My rating:
The positives:
You won’t find modern and contemporary art of this calibre anywhere else in Barcelona. And the contrast between the masterpieces on display and the medieval palatial setting makes the whole experience all the more incredible. You could even enjoy a family day out here :)
The negatives:
The digital art rooms are a little on the small size and there will no doubt end up being queues to get in. Once you’re immersed in the Studio Irma experience, you’ll understand why nobody wants to leave in a hurry!
Top Tip:
Go now before everyone knows!
Last Modified: 10.01.2025 | Céline & Jacqueline
Moco Museum Barcelona
Tickets
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at the Moco Museum Barcelona
Sneak peak!
The Moco Museum Barcelona opened in Oktober 2021.
We’ve already been there and prepared this video for you!
Have fun!
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The details
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Moco Museum
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WHAT IS THERE
TO SEE?
In art we trust.
That’s the motto of the Moco (modern & contemporary) Museum in Barcelona. This offshoot of the Moco Museum Amsterdam opened its doors in October 2021 and there’s no question that it lives up to the original!
You won’t be disappointed by all the exceptional modern and contemporary art on display in the old Palacio Cervelló next door to the Picasso Museum.
Whilst 20% of the exhibits at the Moco Museum belong to Dutch collectors, the rest are on loan and will be swapped for new works of art over time. You’ll even find a Banksy from Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt’s private collection here!
As you enter the museum from the entrance on the narrow street called Carrer de Montcada, you’ll soon realise that the museum is bigger than it looks from the outside.
Much like its counterpart in Amsterdam, this museum is divided up into different areas. Explore modern, contemporary and digital art, and special exhibitions across two floors. The permanent exhibition on the ground floor is called Moco Masters.
The Moco Masters
find out more
Banksy
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Exhibitions
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DIGITAL ART
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A bit of History
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Moco Masters
MODERN & CONTAMPORARY
But who exactly are these Moco Masters? They’re big names in the world of modern and contemporary art. Artists who have worked together, inspired each other or set an example for the next generation with their work.
Moco Masters – Modern
With work by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Salvador Dalí and Keith Haring on display, this is a real modern art hall of fame. One highlight is the huge Dalí sculpture – quite a rare find outside of the Dalí Theatre Museum in the Spanish artist’s hometown of Figueres.
Moco Masters – Contemporary
Damien Hirst, KAWS, David LaChapelle, Hayden Kays, Nick Thomm, Takashi Murakami… Some of these names might ring a bell, but don’t worry if they don’t! This is the perfect opportunity to get to know these contemporary artists and more. The exceptional artwork is displayed beautifully and thoughtfully arranged.
You can head up to the first floor via the stairs on the outside of the building. At the top, you’ll be met by a digital art installation (Les Fantômes) that’ll lead you through to a large exhibition space filled with more contemporary art.
LAUGH NOW
Banksy
The street artist has a special section of his own. More or less a little exhibition within an exhibition. Here you’ll find iconic pieces like Girl with Balloon (with the balloon in gold instead of red) and Forgive Us Our Trespassing. In fact, there’s a very similar version of that last one on display at the Moco Museum in Amsterdam. Take a look at the photos on our Amsterdam page and see if you can spot the differences!
The Laugh Now exhibition hasn’t been authorised by Banksy, but every piece has been validated as his original work by Pest Control, the only official agency able to authenticate his art. I hope you enjoy looking at my photos here.
Exhibitions
at the Moco Museum
The first special exhibition at Moco Barcelona was dedicated to the contemporary Chilean artist Guillermo Lorca. ‘Esplendor de la Noche’ (Splendour of the Night) are large-format paintings with a mixture of magic and realism. Now two of the works are still in the Moco, but in a different location: directly in the first room after the entrance.
Last time I went, I saw the exhibitions of Robin Kid and Robbie Williams – let’s see if some of these works will remain with us after the exhibition 😀
digital art
STUDIO IRMA & TEAMLAB
And now it’s time for something completely different – digital and immersive art. A Japanese art collective called teamLab is the star of the first room. Here they captivate us with an endless shower of scattered flowers set against music designed to soothe the soul. If that’s not enough, teamLab’s work is on display at the Caixa Forum in Barcelona until 9 January 2022 too.
Back at the Moco Museum, the second room is playing host to Europe’s first exhibition dedicated to non-fungible token (NFT) art.
And finally, the space created by Dutch artist Studio Irma awaits. Once you’ve stepped inside, you’ll be completely disoriented by all the diamond-shaped lights surrounding you. There are hundreds of them! The colours and brightness constantly change to create a simply magical effect. ❤️ 💜 💚 💙
‘Reflecting Forward’, a digital immersive art exhibition, is Studio Irma’s introduction to a new art movement called Connectivism. As people, we do not exist in isolation. We are part of a network made up of other humans and even non-human sources.
After being fully immersed in Studio Irma’s world, your eyes will have to readjust to daylight as you step out into a courtyard and are met with Pyramid Connect by Cyril Lancelin. Museumgoers are invited to walk through this large-scale sculpture created especially for the Moco Museum Barcelona and find themselves in the rosy reflection.
With so much going on, the Moco Museum Barcelona is well worth a visit. What a fun way to explore the world of art – even for families with children in tow.
Moco musuem barcelona
A bit of history
Collectors Lionel and Kim Logchies set up the Moco (modern & contemporary) Museum in Amsterdam in 2016. The original museum was such a success that they decided to open a second venue in Barcelona in 2021.
The Spanish offshoot is located in the Palacio Cervelló on Carrer de Montcada in the city’s Born district. The remains of an old building dating back to the 15th century provided the basis for this former 16th century palace. It was used as the residence of the noble Cervelló family until the 18th century, when the Giudices, an influential Genoese merchant family, moved in.
It was home to the Galerie Maeght between 1974 and 2012 and the Gaspar Foundation from 2015 to 2017.
Renovation work has breathed new life into this building that is full of art once more.
Official website of the Moco Museum (EN): mocomuseum.com
Text and image rights: © Céline Mülich, 2021 – 2025
With the support of Jacqueline Glarner
With the permission of the Moco Museum
