Being Arty In Barcelona

Catalonia is the perfect destination for culture vultures – this is the birthplace of Miró, Dalí and Gaudí after all. The city’s Picasso Museum exists due to the legacy the artist left here before his retreat to France, and the National Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) is a mammoth display of unique works that span millennia.

But institutional art palaces aside, there are plenty of smaller, privately run places for the collector or art lover. So leave some room in your suitcase, and check out these fascinating venues for your next piece of wall candy.

Sala Parés, Carrer de Petritxol, 5, 08002

Start your art tour of Barcelona where it all began, and this spacious, split-level space on one of the liveliest streets in the Barri Gòtic. Out of all the art galleries in Barcelona, the Sala Parés has the most blue-chip credentials. Dating from 1877, it was the first private art gallery to open in Spain, and early exhibitors included Santiago Rusiñol and Ramón Casas – the two leading artists of the modernista period. The gallery’s trajectory is still very much in the classical and figurative vein and shows work from leading Catalan and Spanish artists.

Villa del Arte, Pg. de Gràcia, 38-40, 08007

Art galleries in Barcelona have very much embraced the age of instagram, and none do it better than this spectacular venue in an old gentleman tailor’s shop on the Passeig de Gràcia. The works on display and big, brash, colourful and look fabulous on your social media feeds. Run by a Dutchman, the Villa del Arte represents over 40 artists from all over the world. Particularly impressive are the hyperrealistic animal compositions signed by the Armenian artist Corvengi Mikaelian, and voluptuous, flowery ‘dot’ paintings by Mari Ito from Japan.

Base Elements Gallery, Carrer d'Avinyó, 31, 08002

You only have to be in the city for five minutes to realise that there is a vibrant graffiti and street art scene in Barcelona. This gallery, run by an ex-pat American, helps elevate street artists into the world of high art. His poster child is El Pez (‘the fish’) – a Catalan street artist whose work now commands impressive sums. Other artists represented at Base Elements who may follow suit include Ivan Flores, who paints whimsical, surrealist dreamscapes and spray-painted compositions by Konair-P15. With prices starting at a few hundred euros, Base Elements is probably the best Barcelona art gallery to invest in emerging talent.

Miscelanea, Carrer del Doctor Dou, 16, 08001

Located near Barcelona’s modern art museum the MACBA, Miscelanea specialises in limited edition prints by local and international illustrators and artists. It is easy to spend an hour or so browsing the vast array they carry, and bright, colourful and trendy prints can be picked up for as low as 20 euros. Pricier items include hand-painted skateboards and contemporary textile wall art.

Foto Colectania, Passeig de Picasso, 14, 08003

A Barcelona art gallery for lovers of photography, Foto Colectania puts on regular shows from national and international photographers, both past and present. Documentary photography is strongly represented, with past exhibitions including Weegee and the Catalan photographer Txema Salvans.

Marlborough Gallery, Carrer d'Enric Granados, 68, 08008

This well-established name in contemporary art has galleries in London, New York, Madrid and Barcelona. Focussed on 20th-century master artists (its first exhibition in Madrid was of works by Francis Bacon), the Marlborough’s curators have organised exhibitions of pioneer contemporary Spanish painters including Antonio López-García, Juan Genovés, Luis Gordillo, and sculptors David Rodríguez Caballero and Francisco Leiro. A serious gallery for serious collectors and appreciators of modern art.

Galeria Senda, Carrer de Trafalgar, 32, 08010

Just near Barcelona’s famous boulevard Las Ramblas, the Calle Trafalgar has developed into an arts hub, with contemporary galleries wedged between Asian-run shops and restaurants. The Galeria Senda stands out for its lofty, minimalist space and impressive program that spans from the monumental ‘heads’ of the Catalan artist Jaume Plensa, to the sexually charged photographs of Robert Mapplethorpe.

ADN Galeria, Calle de Mallorca, 205, 08036

You never really know what you’ll find at this cutting-edge Barcelona art gallery, whose ambition is to challenge our views and contribute to the contemporary cultural dialogue. Installations and even performances are often programmed, along with photography and sculpture that aims to shock and surprise.

Galeria Mayoral, Career Consell de Cent, 286, 08007

If you have ever dreamed of buying an original Picasso or Miró, a Chagall or Dalí, the Galeria Mayoral specializes in famous post-war names. This Barcelona art gallery in the Eixample district may sound foreboding, but it's actually rather welcoming, and the owners are very happy for you to pop in and browse the masterworks – some of which are not as pricey as you may presume.

Galeria Il.lacions, La Rambla, 130, principal, 08002

Not art but design, or at least an art-design crossover, is the purpose of this unique Barcelona art gallery housed in a period apartment right on Las Ramblas. Representing Catalan artists and creatives, you can wander from room to room admiring furniture and objects, wall art and sculptures, and read the pulse of the contemporary creative drive of the city. By appointment only.

Centre d'Artesania Catalunya, Carrer dels Banys Nous, 11, 08002

Part gallery, part shop, the official artisan centre of Catalonia promotes Catalan makers and craftspeople. A great place to browse for stylish homeware, unique jewellery, handmade hats and other ‘Made in Catalonia’ items that make for a special gift or memento of your Barcelona holiday.