The towering figure of Pablo Picasso cast a huge shadow over 20th-century art. That’s especially true in Spain and even more true in Malaga, the city where Picasso was born. Malaga is home to an incredible Picasso Museum that contains more than 150 works by this legendary artist. It’s one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions and a must-visit for any appreciator of art to learn more about the life and work of one of history’s most famous painters.
Pro-tip! Large bags aren’t allowed in most of Malaga’s top museums, and you wouldn’t want to drag them around with you anyway. Some of these institutions have cloakrooms and luggage lockers where you can leave your bags behind, but you can’t always be sure that you’ll find space, especially during busy times. A better option is to leave your bags with Bounce luggage storage in Malaga so that you can explore these artistic treasures worry-free.
There’s more to art in Malaga than just Picasso. Along with the Picasso Museum, Malaga has some other great places to explore art from across Spain and around the world. If you’re an art aficionado, or even if you have a more casual interest, you’ll find plenty of options here to explore the artistic and cultural legacy of the city and beyond.
CAC Málaga
The Centro de Arte Contemporaneo, or CAC for short, is the best place in Malaga to catch up with what’s new and exciting in the world of contemporary art. Spread over 2400 m², this art center is divided into five different exhibition areas. One houses the permanent collection of modern art that’s on display, and three are dedicated to temporary exhibits by internationally renowned contemporary artists. The fifth area is dedicated to Space Projects, so houses big installations and other unique events.
Because of its focus on the new and exciting, this museum rewards multiple visits. No matter when you go, you’ll be confronted with innovative art by both famous names and groundbreaking new artists you may not have heard of. The museum also hosts intriguing events throughout the year so you can get a better understanding of the current movements in modern art and learn more about the direction art is heading in.
Museo Revello de Toro
This museum of paintings is housed in what was once the home of artist Pedro de Mena. However, the museum is dedicated to Malaga native Felix Revello de Toro, and it contains well over 100 paintings by this renowned local artist. The works are organized by the artist’s thematic interests, and his paintings of women are a particular highlight. Visiting this museum is about the closest you’ll come to taking a tour through the mind of a talented artist, and you’ll probably gain a new appreciation for this painter if you aren’t already familiar with his work. Proving that Malaga has produced other great painters along with Picasso, this museum is a good place to visit to explore the works of a lesser-known but still important local painter.
Centre Pompidou Malaga
A branch of the famous Paris art center, Malaga’s Centre Pompidou is the perfect place to come to appreciate modern art in all its forms.
Located down by the city’s marina, the colorful glass cube building is a work of art in itself. First opened in 2015, this museum has quickly become one of the most notable not just in Malaga but in all of Spain. The Centre displays a permanent collection of works of modern art, along with a constantly changing selection of temporary exhibits. Incorporating everything from painting and sculpture to video, virtual reality, music, and just about any other form of art, there’s always something exciting going on here, so it’s no wonder it’s one of the cultural and artistic highlights of this art-loving city.
La Casa Amarilla Málaga
More of a cultural center than an art gallery, this is the perfect place to come in Malaga if you want a more hands-on experience of the creative process.
This is an artist’s workshop that aims to promote cross-cultural pollination, and so it attracts artists from around the world to come and work in Malaga and contribute to its rich artistic legacy. The art you’ll encounter here comes in every form imaginable, from paintings to dance performances to literary events, and you can easily immerse yourself in the creative energy of this fantastic place when you visit. There’s always something on here, and you’ll never see the same thing twice, so it’s definitely a place to add to your list when exploring the artistic treasures of the city.
Carmen Thyssen Museum
Founded by the art-loving fifth wife of a European aristocrat, this museum displays the personal collection of Carmen Thyssen, as opposed to the huge family art collection that is on display at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. Housed in a 16th-century palace, the collection focuses mainly on 19th-century Spanish paintings, with a special interest in painters from Andalusia.
The paintings on display here cover centuries of art history, from the Renaissance of the 16th century up to the early 20th century, so you’ll be able to track changing ideas in Spanish art over the centuries. The collection includes important works of art from around the country, so it’s a great place to visit to get better acquainted with some of the most notable Spanish painters of the last 400 years.
Artistic Malaga
Malaga’s artistic heritage goes well beyond its most famous son, Pablo Picasso. Once you’ve admired the work of that famous painter, make time to check out other artists at these institutions. The art scene in Malaga is still very much alive and well, so don’t miss this opportunity to appreciate the cultural contributions of the city to the world.
